Finding of man's body in Gaol Street, Oakham sparks murder inquiry
Police launched a murder investigation yesterday after the body of a man was found in a house.
Four men aged 26, 33, 33 and 47, have been arrested in connection with the death of the man, who was discovered at a ground-floor flat in Oakham.
Officers were called to the property in Gaol Street just after 7.30am and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police cordoned off both ends of the pedestrianised road, which runs between High Street and South Street.
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The cordon was maintained throughout the day while forensic officers carried out investigations at the flat which is next door to the Quaker Meeting House.
The body was removed from the scene and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place in the next few days.
The dead man has not been named and police have not revealed how he died.
Residents and traders in the market town yesterday spoke of their shock at the news of the death.
Jamie Bailey, who lives in Oakham, said he knew the dead man.
The 21-year-old said: "Me and my dad saw him yesterday afternoon. He was his usual self.
"We had a quick chat and he told us he was going to meet some friends.
"When I heard the news I was very shocked. It is awful."
Jackie Johnson, who owns Hairworx salon, in Gaol Street, said: "This sort of thing just does not happen in Oakham.
"The first I knew about this was when my friend's daughter texted me at about 8am to tell me the street to my salon was blocked off by police.
"When my staff got there they told me the police were not allowing them along into the shop.
"We were finally allowed along the street and got into the salon, where we started ringing customers up trying to reschedule appointments."
An assistant at a shop at the end of the street said she was stunned to hear about the incident.
Pat Agar, who works in The Elephant Room, which sells Oriental giftware and crafts, said: "It is terrible, a real shock to us all.
"To think that someone may have been murdered just round the corner makes me feel uneasy. Oakham is usually such a quiet place.
"I have had lots of people into the shop but they have not been buying. They were all talking about what has happened. It is the talk of the town."
The four men who were arrested in connection with the incident were in police custody yesterday.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Castle, who is leading the investigation said: "Inquiries into this incident are in their early stages.
"We are trying to piece together exactly what has happened.
"I would like to appeal to anyone who was in Gaol Street between 8pm on Wednesday 7am yesterday and either saw or heard anything out of the ordinary to get in contact with the police as soon as they can."
Call police on 101.
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