Wendover murder – OAP, 77, dies of injuries at Chilterns home as man, 36, arrested

A MURDER probe is under way today after a pensioner died of serious injuries at a home in a leafy town on the edge of The Chilterns.

A 77-year-old man died after police were called to reports of an assault at a house in Wendover, Buckinghamshire yesterday afternoon.

A 36-year-old man, who is know to the victim, was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.

Officers were called to the £468,000 semi on the edge of Wendover at 5.25pm.

The 77-year-old, who had suffered serious injuries after an alleged skirmish in the back garden of his home, died at the scene.

Efforts by an air ambulance crew which landed in a nearby park to revive him proved to be unsuccessful.

One neighbour said: “All hell broke loose. I counted seven police cars, two ambulances and the air ambulance.

Do you know the victim? Email ben.hill@news.co.uk or call 020 7782 4100

“They were working on him in the house for a couple and that is where he died.”

He said he believed the victim, who was divorced and had a son, had suffered fatal knife wounds.

“I saw a paramedic making signs as if he had been slashed with a knife, rather than being stabbed," he said.

“He had been here for over 15 years. He used to have a lot of flash cars - Merecedes and Ferraris.”

Another neighbour who also asked not to be named, said: "Whenever we saw [the victim] he was always walking his dog.

"He was a lovely man who had lived here for about 16 years.

"Last night we heard a lot of angry shouting coming from the back garden of the house. It was obvious that someone was extremely angry and was shouting a lot.

"There were about eight or nine police cars which suddenly converged on the road, along with an ambulance and then an air ambulance landed.

"I have no idea what the argument was about but it is very sad that someone has lost their life. There were police everywhere, it was chaos here last night."

Another neighbour said: “He was divorced, but he did have a girlfriend. I haven’t seen her in a while."

Cops were on duty outside the house today while forensic investigators searched the property.

The man's next of kin have been informed and will be supported by specialist officers.

Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Team is leading the investigation.

A police cordon remains around the large house, on a road leading out of the town towards Aylesbury, today.

Det Supt Kevin Brown of the Major Crime Team said: “Firstly, I would like to give my condolences to the family and friends of the man who has sadly died.

“We are currently in the very early stages of this investigation.

"The people involved were known to each other and an arrest has been made.

"There will be some disruption in the area over the next few days as the investigation continues."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.