More time to quiz gyrocopter pair
Police have been given more time to question two men on suspicion of murder after a hunt supporter was killed in a collision with a gyrocopter.
Trevor Morse, 48, died of severe head injuries after he was hit by the aircraft at Long Marston airfield near Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, as he followed a hunt on Monday afternoon.
Two people travelling in the gyrocopter were arrested on Monday on suspicion of murder following the incident, and magistrates have now granted detectives until midnight on Wednesday to question them.
Meanwhile, it emerged on Tuesday that members of the hunt had complained to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) about a gyrocopter following them.
Warwickshire Hunt master Sam Butler said: "A gyrocopter had been following us for a couple of weeks and we had made a formal complaint to the Civil Aviation Authority 10 days ago."
The CAA confirmed that a complaint about the gyrocopter was received 10 days ago, and an investigation subsequently launched.
Mr Butler said he is unable to speculate on why the gyrocopter was following the hunt and is awaiting the result of the police inquiry.
He added: "It is a tragic but fatal accident, our first and foremost thoughts are with Trevor's family and we must wait for the facts and the truth ourselves.
"He was a very great supporter, a passionate believer in country sports and hunting and the tribute I pay is not only to him but to his family. This man was the most loyal and most high quality supporter of hunting you will ever find. Outside his family, it was the most important thing to him."
The gyrocopter has now been removed from the airfield. The rotor was dismantled by a recovery team and loaded on to a trailer, with the body of the aircraft before being driven from the site.
2 Comments
by Giles, Rose Ash
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 9:47PM
“There has now been a murder charge against one of the men in gyrocopter”
by Sam Howard, Torquay
Wednesday, March 11 2009, 6:07AM
“The truth is that Trevor Morse headed to the airport in order to provoke an aggressive confrontation with the gyrocoptor pilots.
These people are doing a hard job in difficult circumstances. It is well known that most hunters are extremely violent and unpleasant people.
Morse put himself in the way of the airplane in a highly irresponsible manner. The pilots must be very upset and my heart goes out to them.
Do not believe them when they talk people being 'fine countrymen' what that means is that they get sadistic pleasure out of torturing wildlife for fun.
All hunting and all hunts should now be banned forthwith!”