Man held on suspicion of road rage murder

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a grandfather who was stabbed to death after he was involved in a minor crash on a village road.

Detective Superintendent Adam Hibbert briefs the media in Findon, West Sussex. Picture: PA

Armed officers held the 34-year-old suspect, from Worthing, West Sussex, at 2pm yesterday in connection with the road rage murder of Donald Lock.

Mr Lock, 79, was knifed repeatedly in a “frenzied” attack after he got out of his car following the shunt on the A24 at Findon, near Worthing.

Mr Lock, a long-time member of the Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club, died at the scene at about 8:40pm on Thursday night despite attempts by paramedics to revive him.

The arrest was made less than an hour after Detective Superintendent Adam Hibbert, of the Sussex and Surrey major crime branch, made a televised appeal for the public’s help.

At the scene, flowers were placed and tributes were paid to Mr Lock, a married grandfather, as cordons remained in place on the bypass where the killing happened.

John Lucas, who had known Mr Lock for more than 50 years, said: “It’s such a terrible thing. He was an unbelievable guy. He would do anything for anyone.

“I can’t understand how it happened. He wouldn’t have got out of the car and caused any trouble at all. He wasn’t that type of guy. He has been in the cycling club – Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club – more than 60 years.”

Among the floral tributes at the scene was one bouquet left by a distraught-looking woman and man who hugged each other by the cordon.

Part of their card read: “Grandad, there are no words to express how I’m feeling. I have lost a very special grandad. My only grandad. I love you so much.

“You will be truly missed by so many people.”

Mr Hibbert told reporters that Mr Lock, who lived in Worthing, had suffered “multiple stab wounds” and had been the victim of a “frenzied attack”.

Officers were carrying out house-to-house inquiries as locals described their shock.

Laura Muchmore, 21, who works in a garden centre close to the murder scene, said: “It’s really shocking for an area like this.

“Nothing ever happens round here. And it’s especially shocking that the victim was an old man. Findon is a really lovely little village. It’s so picturesque and it’s not known for this type of crime.”

Another resident, who declined to be named, said: “It’s horrendous. It’s such a quiet little village and so unusual for something like this to happen.”

Police teams were carrying out fingertip searches of the undergrowth down the middle of the carriageway where the incident happened.

Mr Hibbert said: “A man is in custody on suspicion of murder.

“I continue to appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision on the A24 at 8:40pm last night, or who may have CCTV or dashboard cameras of the area at that time, to come to assist our investigation.”

Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club secretary Adrian Palmer said: “Don was a kind, gentle and fair man and a good friend.”