Two teenage boys are back in custody, suspected of murder, after a man in his 70s died following a brutal assault in Cheltenham earlier this week.
From Assault to Murder Charge
Originally arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, the pair – a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old – were rearrested as murder suspects after the victim’s condition worsened.
- The 17-year-old was first arrested Thursday evening.
- The 16-year-old was picked up in the early hours of Friday.
Shocking Attack on Millennium Bridge
Police were called around 7:30pm on Wednesday after reports involving three males. Two of them reportedly threw a large branch from the Millennium Bridge at a cyclist below. Fortunately, the cyclist escaped injury. The pair then encountered the elderly pensioner on Honeybourne Way. An argument ensued before one teen punched the man, knocking him to the ground. The youths fled before police arrived.
Tragic Death and Public Appeal Lead to Arrests
The victim was rushed to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in critical condition but sadly died on Friday, April 10. Authorities informed his next of kin and the coroner. Police released CCTV images of the suspects in a public appeal, widely shared by media, including Real Crime News. This led to crucial tips from the public, helping secure the arrests.
