Police granted extra time to interview two teenage boys in connection with murder

A custody extension has been granted by magistrates for two teenage boys arrested on suspicion of murder earlier this week.

Following an application to Magistrates’ this morning (Thursday 18 December), detectives now have until tomorrow afternoon to question the two boys.

The boys, aged 15 and 17, were arrested in connection with the suspected stabbing of a man in Cheltenham on Tuesday (16 December).

A murder investigation was launched after the man in his 40s died following an incident in an alleyway between Albert Street and Hungerford Street in the St Paul’s area on Tuesday afternoon.

The two boys were arrested shortly after this, along with a man from the town, who has since been released with no further action being taken against him.

Three people from Cheltenham who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have all been bailed to return at a later date.

The Major Crime Investigation Team is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Examinations of various scenes are continuing over the next few days, including parts of Pittville Park, where cordons are in place.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call police on 101 and quote incident 241 of 16 December.

You can also provide information to police online by completing the following form and quoting the same incident number: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/ 

Alternatively you can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or online: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/