Murder update - police issue descriptions of two men

Police at Rugby today (Monday August 22) issued a description of two men they wish to trace in connection with the death of 61 year old Michael BOFFEY in Featherbed lane, Withybrook, near Rugby on Saturday 20 August, 2005.

Mr Boffey was run over by his own Land Rover as the thieves drove away it away from Grange Farm in Featherbed Lane. He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. A post mortem examination showed that he died as a result of head injuries sustained as a result of being run over.

The circumstances of the incident are that a green Land Rover, registration number BT53AJX, was stolen from the yard at Grange Farm in Featherbed Lane on Saturday 20 August at approximately 11am. In the course of the vehicle being stolen, its owner Mr Michael Boffey saw this taking place and attempted to intervene. In trying to stop the vehicle he has been struck by the Land Rover. The vehicle has not stopped after the collision and has left Featherbed Lane.

Mr Boffey's Land Rover was found later on Saturday. It was parked around three miles away in the Church Car park at School Lane, Wolvey.

Photo of green Land Rover similar to the one stolen by the thieves

Police enquiries indicate that the vehicle was parked there at around 11.30am. The police have now recovered the Land Rover for forensic examination.

At both these times a silver motor vehicle was seen accompanying the Land Rover.

A witness at Grange Farm saw two occupants in what has been described as a large silver vehicle immediately before the incident took place. The men are described as follows:

DRIVER: White male, 25 - 29 years old, short unkempt dark hair, stocky build, and wearing a red or pink T-shirt which had writing on it with a sleeveless light green or brown jacket over the top.

PASSENGER: White male, 25 -29 years old, short dark unkempt hair, a darker complexion than the driver and wearing a black capped sleeve T shirt.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Goodall who is leading the murder enquiry said,

"We are treating this as a murder enquiry and wish to reassure the public we have a dedicated team of detectives, police officers and support staff working on this incident.

"We are appealing for witnesses and are keen to trace the owners of silver coloured vehicles in order to eliminate them from our enquiry, who were in the Withybrook and Wolvey areas between 10.30am and Midday on Saturday 20 August."

Police are also appealing for any person with knowledge of this incident to contact Rugby CID on our dedicated line 01926 415795. All calls will be treated in confidence. Or they can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."

"Mr Boffey was a hard working decent man, who has been taken from a loving family.

"His death has left his family and the close knit community in which he lived, devastated."

Mr Michael Boffey, of Burton Hastings, near Nuneaton, was aged 61 years.

He leaves his wife Bernice and their three adult children, William (40years), Jane (38 years) and Micky (36 years). He also has a sister, Helen.

Bernice and Michael also have five grand children.

Speaking about his father, son William told a media briefing at Rugby Police Station today (Monday 22 August),

"My dad was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

"Farming for him was a dream come true, he loved it, it was his life and every day was as exciting as the last.

"It is beyond words to describe how we will miss him.

"We just hope these people are caught. If anyone out there knows something we implore them to come forward and contact the police."