UPDATE: More time given to interview fourth murder suspect

The 23-year-old man, from Crawley, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday afternoon after a 45-year-old Portuguese man was found seriously injured in an alleyway between Stephenson Way and Haslett Avenue East.

The victim later died.

Today (Tuesday January 21) magistrates gave detectives further time to interview the suspect.

Two other men aged 33 and 48 and a woman aged 22, all from Crawley, are also still in custody on suspicion of murder.

Initial indications from the post mortem support the suggestion that the victim was assaulted and suffered head injuries between 10pm on Saturday and 3.25am on Sunday, when his body was discovered.

Detective Chief Inspector Jason Taylor, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “We are still piecing together what happened on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

“We know that the victim has suffered a head injury but we still need to speak to anyone who can tell us how he suffered it.

“Our appeal remains for anyone who was in the area between 10.30pm on Saturday and 3.25am on Sunday to contact us.”

Searches are continuing in the alleyway, on a patch of ground behind Three Bridges Free Church and at Tilgate Drive cycle path. Officers are guarding each scene so they can be examined for evidence.

Officers are still liaising with the Portuguese authorities to try to confirm the victim’s identity and to get in touch with his relatives.

Anyone with information about the death should call 101 quoting Op Atlas, email [email protected] or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.