A MAN found dead in a flat in Carterton yesterday is believed to be a former market stallholder who lived in Witney.

Police launched a murder investigation after the man’s death at a flat in the Tower Centre, in Alvescot Road. Two men and a woman were last night still being held by detectives.

A post mortem was also due to take place last night to determine how the man in his 50s died.

A police car was also parked outside the flat of a Witney man last night. It is understood he is thought to be the victim.

He was a former jeweller and a market stallholder in the town. We are not publishing his name because it is understood police have not yet traced his family.

Officers were called to the flat at about 7.50am yesterday and a 27-year-old woman, a 48-year-old man and a 59-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of murder.

The man was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

Neighbour Tony Doherty, 24, said he heard shouting in the middle of the night.

He said: “I finished watching a film at 2.30am and heard shouting between a man and a woman, and then it went quiet. It was a woman shouting at a man – arguing.

“Then I woke up to all my friends asking if I was okay, because they had heard there was a murder investigation. I was shocked. There were a dozen police officers, loads of people.

“Whoever did it doesn’t deserve to walk around with the rest of us.”

Paramedics were called to the flat by a member of the public at about 7.30am and witnesses said an air ambulance landed on the Alvescot Road recreation ground.

One resident said: “I saw the air ambulance this morning. And then a lot of police – about six or seven cars – forensics turned up and then the canine units.”

Resident Gillian Lomas, 66, added: “It is shock and horror. It’s not nice
when anyone loses their life.”

“I guessed it was too late from how long the ambulance was there.”

Marilyn Smith, 62, manager of the Sobell House Hospice charity shop in Carterton, said: “I got into work at 8.25am.

“They were all here then. Lots of police cars, and ambulance and paramedics. The car park was a mass of blue.

“It's sad, very sad, that someone lost a life around here. I have lived here 41 years and this is the first time I have come across anything like this.”

Last night Det Ch Insp Ian Hunter, who is leading the investigation, said: “We
have yet to complete a formal identification and our priority is to ensure the victim’s next of kin are informed as soon as possible.”

Insp Louise Roddy, of Witney police station, said: “Incidents of this nature are rare in West Oxfordshire.

"Our neighbourhood patrols will be in the area to address any concerns from local residents and offer reassurance.”

Charlotte Maisey, 38, a hairdresser at the Kutting Krew, said police had come in and asked for CCTV, adding: “It’s very shocking.”

Hassan Guney, 56, owner of the takeaway Chic-o-Land, said: “I live upstairs but I was sleeping. It's not good. It's shocking.”

Rod Clatworthy, 75, of Carterton, said: “I was really shocked when I found out. I couldn’t believe it.”