Please can you help catch Bognor Regis killer

A team of seven officers is continuing the search for information which could lead to the murderer of Marek Pudlowski a year after he died.

DCI Steve Johns, who is leading the hunt, again visited the scene of Mr Pudlowski's death and said he believed an individual held the key to achieving justice.

"The answers to this crime lie within a very close-knit group of people within the Polish community in Bognor.

"I believe from the inquiries we have made there is one person, other than the killer, who knows what happened," said DCI Johns.

"They know who they are. I want that person to come forward and do the right thing and contact the police.

"They can help us to piece together exactly what happened to Marek."

DCI Johns, of Sussex Police's major crimes branch, was joined by police officers and PCSOs who distributed leaflets with a specific mobile phone number people can call with informatioon.

It will be answered by Polish-speaking police officers or staff or a message can be left in Polish.

It was on the afternoon of August 3, 2009, that Mr Pudlowski was found dead on a bench at the southern end of Waterloo Square by a passer-by.

He had serious bruising on his upper body from a savage beating a few hours earlier.

It is known he was alive and well when he woke at his house on Bassett Road.

His movements have been traced to HSBC in the High Street in late morning when he was obviously unwell.

But what happened to him and when and where is still not definitely known.

Mo esz pomoc?

DCI Steve Johns told members of the Polish community in Bognor Regis: "Ktos wie co sie stalo Markowi Pudlowskiemu. Jesli macie jakies informacje na ten temat, prosimy o kontakt."

Its English translation is: "Someone knows what happened to Marek Pudlowski.

"If you have any information about it, please contact us. Thank you"

Information should be given to 0845 60 70 999, quoting Operation Langton.

A mass of information had been received by the investigating officers, but the vital clue which would lead to the killer being brought to justice was still missing.

DCI Johns said he had 'two or three' theories about the reasons behind the pummelling which Mr Pudlowski received. He declined to reveal them for fear of prejudicing the investigation.

He said he was not looking for a professional killer and the individual involved was not a threat to the general population.

"People should be concerned that a man has died on the seafront, but not concerned they are at risk from the individual responsible," he said.

He pledged the investigation would continue at its present level for the next two months at least.

He said: "It is far too early to be thinking of winding down our investigation."

Even then, the search for the murderer would never end. It would be put under periodical review for possible advances with new forensic science and new information.