£5,000 put up in bid to solve murder mystery
DETECTIVES put up a £5,000 reward yesterday to prompt the neighbours of murder victim Michael Wood to help catch his killer.
After more than two months
hunting the killer of the
diminutive Tilehurst man police put up the reward last night but denied it was a last throw of the dice in their inquiry.
Five people remain on bail while forensic evidence continues to be examined and police spokeswoman Janet Malcolmson said the reward, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer, was "another avenue we have to explore".
Thirty-one-year-old Mr Wood was found stabbed to death in his flat in Gairn Close, on the Dee Road estate on Wednesday, March 28. It is believed he knew his killer because there was no sign the door to his bedsit had been forced open.
Although many neighbours of Mr Wood have come forward, Ms Malcomson said police were
hoping somebody with vital
information on the Dee Road estate had yet to come forward.
"The reward is quite an unusual step," she said. "We don't put up rewards in every case because money won't always make witnesses come forward, but we felt that in this case it might encourage people.
"We can't leave any stone unturned. It is far from being the only avenue of inquiry. There are still lots of lines of inquiry."
Mr Wood was only 5ft 1in tall and quite thin and police believe he was easily overpowered.
Detective Superintendent Euan Read said: "He was very quiet and likeable, but there is quite a lot of evidence that he may have been subjected to bullying and
taunting."
Detectives are still looking for the driver of a red saloon car who was seen acting suspiciously in the area the night before Mr Wood was found.
The man walked along Gairn Close to his car in Dee Road at about 10.30pm and then drove it 20 yards to the junction of Tay Road, where he got out and went into a wooded area.
He went back to his car a few minutes later and drove off.
Ms Malcolmson said: "It is
somebody who appeared to be behaving out of the ordinary."
The last confirmed sighting of Mr Wood was at 10.30am the day before his body was discovered. Police believe he died that day.
Anyone with information can call detectives at the incident room on (0118) 918 1752 or Crimestoppers
on (0800) 555111.