Arrest as police link Epsom murder to sex industry
9:21am Tuesday 3rd April 2012 in News
Woman arrested as police link Epsom murder to sex industry
Police arrested a 37-year-old woman last night on suspicion of the murder of an Epsom man which they believe may be linked to the sex industry.
The body of Winston Fernandez, 69, was found in a bedroom at his home in Longdown Lane North on the morning of Monday, February 13.
He had suffered multiple injuries to his chest, neck and abdomen, although it is not believed a weapon was used.
He had been dead for some time and from the outset police believed he may have known his killer.
Police now think his death may be connected to escorts who were visiting his house and are appealing for taxi drivers who may have driven them to his home to come forward.
This morning, officers from the Surrey and Sussex major crime team raided two addresses in North West London and two in Hertfordshire as part of the investigation.
The woman, arrested at her home address in West Kensington last night, is currently being questioned in police custody.
A murder enquiry was launched three days after Mr Fernandez's death, after a post mortem examination confirmed that he had been murdered.
Murder Squad detectives have been building up a picture of the lifestyle of Mr Fernandez, who lived alone.
They discovered that in the months before his death, he had been using a number of escort agencies and it is believed he may have been visited by women employed by these agencies at his home address.
Detectives are keen to speak to any drivers, taxi drivers or anyone connected with the escort industry who might have been to Mr Fernandez’s address in Longdown Lane North in either late 2011 or the early part of this year.
They are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who was at the address and or may have picked someone up on the evening of January 16 this year or the early hours of the following morning.
Detective Superintendent John Boshier, head of the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: "Our enquiries have shown that Mr Fernandez may have had a number of visitors to his address in the months before his death and they could have information vital to this investigation.
"I would appeal to any of those people to come forward and speak to us, if necessary, in confidence.
"We would especially like to hear from anyone who may have gone to his address on the evening of January 16 or the early hours of January 17, perhaps to collect someone.
"I would ask any taxi drivers in the Epsom or London areas to cast their minds back to that evening and to contact us if they may have picked up a fare in the area of Longdown Lane North."
Anyone with information surrounding the death of Mr Fernandez is urged to contact Surrey Police as a matter of urgency on 01483 630077 quoting Operation Lydford.
