Police name man found dead in car

Police have named the man found dead in a car in Bedworth.

He has been identified as James Patrick FENTON, aged 48 years, who lived in Charles Eaton Road, Bedworth.

Mr Fenton had lived in Bedworth for some years. He was married but separated from his wife and has three children aged from 17 years to 24 years.

Mr Fenton's body was found slumped in his silver Peugeot 206 car in Charles Eaton Road, Bedworth at 9.35am on Friday 6 May. A Post Mortem Examination has revealed that he died as a result of two gunshot wounds to the head.

It is believed Mr Fenton was shot at short range at approximately 9.40pm on Thursday 5 May as he arrived home in his car. He died immediately and his body slumped forward across the seat of the car. The lights of the car were on and the engine was still running the following morning when his body was spotted by a passerby at 9.30am.

Detective Superintendent Ken Lawrence who is leading the enquiry into Mr Fenton's death said the motive for the killing was not known. However he said he believed that Mr Fenton's death was not a motiveless crime.

"Mr Fenton was not a man with a regular routine. He did not come and go at specific times. Therefore we believe that whoever did this must have been waiting for him outside his home on Thursday night.

"We are therefore appealing for anyone who was in the area on Thursday evening who saw anything suspicious to come forward. We are also appealing to anyone who saw the car with the lights on and the engine running to make contact. It may be that at the time you did not think what you saw was important but in the light of these events your information may have a greater significance.

"If you saw a strange car, heard the gunshots, which we believe were fired at approximately 9.40pm in quick succession, or if you saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area of Charles Eaton Road, Bedworth from 6pm onwards on Thursday evening, please contact the police."

Describing Mr Fenton's death as a callous crime Det Supt Lawrence said, "Incidents of this nature are rare in Warwickshire and the reason for it remains a mystery at this time. We urgently need to hear from the people who live in the area or who were out and about on Thursday night on Charles Eaton Road. It was polling night and at 9.40pm the polling stations were still open. People may have been going out for the evening, or coming in after going to vote or out for a drink. If you saw anything unusual please contact the incident room."

A murder incident room has been set up at Nuneaton Justice Centre and members of the public are asked to contact the incident room on 02476 483089, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 where the information can be given anonymously.