Police still questioning trio over Halesowen murder

Nov 25 2008 by Mike Bradley, Birmingham Mail

POLICE were today continuing to question two men and a youth over the murder of a Halesowen father-of-three.

Halesowen care worker Paul David Hadley was found dead in the grounds of St John the Baptist Church in the town centre on Wednesday morning last week.

The three, aged 40, 45 and 17, and all local, were arrested over the weekend.

A murder inquiry was launched after a post mortem revealed the 40-year-old, from Richmond Street, died from a head injury. However, officers were unable to confirm whether a weapon was used.

He had been out drinking in pubs in the town centre the previous evening, police said. A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Officers are still holding the three men as part of their inquiries.

“They can be held for up to 72 hours from their arrest. If officers wish, this amount of time could go up and they can detain them further, which is something officers could look at doing.”

Local speculation was Mr Hadley had been the victim of a robbery, but detectives are refusing to comment on a motive.