Depot murder case: arrest is made
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• Police investigating last week's murder of a Rotherham transport company's nightwatchman and the theft of a truck from the depot, arrested a man on Tuesday 4 August.
James Doy, 55, an employee at international haulage company Osborne Transport for just six months, was shot and killed sometime after 22:00hrs on Monday 27 July.
About £400 of drivers' wages and petty cash was missing from the company's offices on the Thornhill Industrial estate in Greasbrough.
The stolen truck, a Volvo F12 which had been uncoupled from its Italy-bound trailer, had recently returned from a trip to Spain. It was found burnt out on a Leicester housing estate at 04:40hrs on Tuesday 28 July.
Osborne Transport's shocked transport manager Bryan Else says the company has never had a vehicle stolen or had a break-in before. Doy's job was "to keep a peaceful eye on things. He did not use strong arm tactics," says Else.
Motorists had reported seeing the two-tone blue truck, registration number H628 UWE, at the Basford Hall Garage Mobil filling station in Nottingham, near junction 26 on the MI, when the driver was asking motorists for money to refuel. Police actually spoke to the driver of the truck about vehicle security in an area that has a reputation for car crime.
The truck is still with the police, says Else, "but there's a possibility we might be able to put a cab on it," he says.
According to the South Yorkshire Police, the man taken for questioning has a history of violence".
Else says the depot was made secure at night, but police suspect Doy may have interrupted the thieves during the burglary.
"The murder has had a terrible effect on our business, not that it was anyone's fault, but the depot had to be sealed off for two days while the forensic people came in," says Else.
Osborne Transport, owned by Ron Osborne, runs 25 vehicles throughout the UK and to most countries on the Continent for companies including British Steel and Argos.
Five other arrests have been made over the past week in connection with the attack, but four people have been released with
out charge. One will be charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
D Any commercial Motor reader who is able to help with information about the attack and subsequent theft of the Volvo tractive unit should contact South Yorkshire Police at the Sheffield incident room on (0709) 828182.