Cops probing murder of man ‘killed for speaking Polish’ release CCTV of potential witnesses
Detectives say people in these images could hold crucial evidence about fatal assault
POLICE investigating the murder of a Polish man beaten to death in a suspected race hate attack have released CCTV images of potential witnesses they wish to talk to.
Arkadiusz Jozwik, known as Arek, 37, was battered by a group of thugs outside shops in Harlow, Essex, on August 27.
He suffered head injuries and was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital before being transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where he died two days later.
Two other men were injured in the savage assault by a gang of up to 20 youths.
Six teenagers were arrested and released on police bail as part of a murder inquiry.
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore said CCTV from the area shows Mr Jozwik going with two friends to the TGF Pizza takeaway at about 11.10pm where he ordered a pizza.
He said: "They then went outside and spoke with a group of youths as well as other passers-by for up to about twenty minutes.
"However it can be seen that the atmosphere then changed and there was a verbal argument.
"It is during this altercation that Arek receives a single punch to the face, causing him to fall backwards and bang his head on the ground.
"There followed a short scuffle between Arek's friends and a few other people, before the suspects leave the scene.
"I know there were numerous people in The Stow, many of whom will have witnessed the incident and would have been shocked by what they saw."
Detectives again appealed to anyone with information to come forward, in particular a man wearing shorts who was talking to the victims beside a large flower bed.
DCI Pasmore said: "I am appealing for anyone who was in the area between 10pm and midnight that Saturday to please come forward.
"I am also appealing for the members of the group present at the time of the incident to come forward and give me their account of what happened.
"I believe they and others could hold vital evidence that will help establish what it was that led to Arek's tragic death."
Last week, Poland's Ambassador to the UK Arkady Rzegocki visited the scene of the fatal attack, describing the killing as a "a very important tragedy".
He added his staff has had to deal with "15 or 16 such situations" since the Brexit referendum in June.