Emiliano Sala police arrest man, 62, and women, 48, over ‘sick photo of dead footballer in morgue’

TWO people have been arrested after a picture purporting to show the post-mortem examination of Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala was posted on Twitter.

The images, which first appeared on social media several weeks ago, allegedly showed the Argentine striker's remains at the Holly Tree Lodge mortuary, in Bournemouth, Dorset.

Wiltshire Police said a 48-year-old woman from Corsham has been arrested on suspicion of unauthorised access to computer material (an offence under the Computer Misuse Act) and malicious communications, and is currently released on conditional bail.

A 62-year-old man from Calne was also arrested on suspicion of unauthorised access to computer material, and is currently released under investigation.

A spokesman for the force said: "There is no evidence to suggest a break-in at the mortuary, and no evidence to suggest that any staff from the mortuary, or indeed any other council employees, are involved in any wrongdoing."

Detective Inspector Gemma Vinton, senior investigating officer for Wiltshire Police, added: "My thoughts remain with Emiliano's family for the pain they have endured throughout the last three months, and who should not have to go through the additional anguish of knowing such distressing images have circulated on the internet.

"I would also urge people to stop sharing the image - this is causing further distress to Emiliano's family and friends."

A Cardiff City FC spokesperson said: "Cardiff City FC expresses its disgust and outrage at the individual/individuals who thoughtlessly took and shared the image."

PLANE CRASH-LANDED IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL

The 28-year-old footballer, who had just signed for Cardiff from Nantes, disappeared with the pilot of the Piper Malibu private plane after it crashed in the waters north of Guernsey on January 21.

Sala's body was recovered on February 6 but David Ibbotson, 59, from Crowle, Lincolnshire, has not been found.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch preliminary report in February said the pilot was not licensed to fly fee-paying passengers.

An inquest into the footballer's death in Dorset on February 11 opened and adjourned after hearing how a post-mortem confirmed Sala died from "head and trunk" injuries.

They were caused by the impact of his light aircraft plunging into the Channel. The striker was identified by fingerprints.

The footballer's father, Horacio Sala, 58, died at his home in Progreso in Argentina's Santa Fe province on Friday.

Sala's dad recently showed the tragedy was still on his mind.

Talking about the accident that claimed the life of his son, he said: "I want to continue investigating all the things that we have to know and the things that we can know. That is all I can ask."

A wrangle over Sala's £15million transfer fee is still ongoing.

Cardiff have argued that the deal was not legal because the striker's former side Nantes did not fulfil all the conditions set.

The French club insist that they did everything correctly.