
Three murder arrests after man found dead at Blackburn home
Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 37-year-old man was found dead at a home in Blackburn. Paul Scott was discovered in an unresponsive state at the house on Peridot Close by an ambulance crew at about 03:40 BST and died at the scene, Lancashire Police said.A 24-year-old man and two women, aged 42 and 21, have been held in custody after they were detained on suspicion of murder.Det Ch Insp Simon Pritchard of Lancashire Police said officers believe Mr Scott's death was an "isolated incident".
The force said a post-mortem would be held to find out how he died. Det Ch Insp Pritchard said the investigation into Mr Scott's death was "very much in its early stages".Residents in the area will see an increased police presence around Peridot Close while the investigation is carried out and to offer "reassurance", he said.The force has asked for anyone who may have information to get in touch."It may be something that you think is insignificant, but I would encourage you to tell us anyway," Det Ch Insp Pritchard said.Anyone with footage of the street from between midnight and 04:00 on Sunday has also been asked to get in touch.
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EXCLUSIVE 'I'm rotting behind bars': Despair of murder convict jailed for killing love rival after bishop easily finds witness who holds the key to his freedom while appeal watchdog failed for 18 months
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He maintains he was in a parked car near the Valentine pub, but never left the vehicle. In a move he has regretted since, he fled the country fearing he would be attacked by Mr Darby's family. His parents also moved after police said they could not guarantee their safety. Eight years later when he returned to the UK, Jason was jailed for life with a minimum of 18 years and has been in prison ever since. In March 2024, a startling new update in the case was exposed by local investigative journalist Charles Thomson which is now forming the basis of a new appeal with the CCRC. After tracking down the prosecution's star witness to offer him the right of reply over some of the discrepancies in his statements, he uncovered something truly shocking. Mr Ahmed had told police the killer was between 5ft 10in and 6ft with a shaved haircut, when Jason is 6ft 5 and had a mop of dark hair. Mr Ahmed also discounted Jason in an identity parade in 2005, but was asked to look again seven years later and picked him out of a police photo ID parade that only showed Jason's head and shoulders - hiding his distinctive height. Jason was arrested one day after Mr Ahmed picked him out of that photo ID parade and said he was the killer. He was the only witness who identified Jason and his evidence directly led to him being charged with murder. No forensic evidence has ever linked him to the crime. When Mr Ahmed was asked by Newsquest about some of the discrepancies in the case, he became irate and astonishingly said: 'It was the blink of the eye. I was passing by. How could you remember things like that? And I was drunk.' He also said he told police he was drinking that morning, which was not mentioned in court or in evidence disclosed to the defence. When asked whether he thought he picked out the right person, he replied: 'No, I don't know. I don't know.' Jason's family hope to use the new evidence in their long bid to overturn his conviction. But they are growing increasingly impatient with the CRCC who have still not interviewed Mr Ahmed. His trial at the Old Bailey heard how Moore and Darby were involved in a 'love triangle' over the affections of Adele Raynor, who worked in a bar underneath the gambler's £1.4million Canary Wharf apartment. Jason admitted Robert had threatened to 'chop my toes off', that he had been at the car park at the time, but claimed he was not the killer as he had remained in a car when the stabbing took place. Mr Ahmed told police two weeks after the stabbing that the attacker was a bulky man, aged 30 to 40, with short dark hair shaved to number two length - and that he was wearing a blue jacket. A second witness driving past said the attacker was the same height or an inch taller than the victim, who she estimated to be 5ft 10 - seven inches shorter than Robert. Mr Ahmed did not select Jason in an identity parade shortly after the murder and chose a short haired volunteer instead. In a move which has been questioned by photo parade experts, he was asked to carry out a second ID seven years later, having already seen a picture of Jason. This time he selected Jason who was arrested, charged and later found guilty by the jury at the Old Bailey. Moore was led screaming to the cells, violently kicking the dock and threatening a police officer. The CCRC is in the midst of a crisis, having been put on 'urgent review' by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Dame Vera Baird was this month appointed the new chair after her predecessor, Helen Pitcher, quit after losing the confidence of the government in the fall-out from the wrongful conviction of Andrew Malkinson. He spent 17 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit and a damning review found the CCRC repeatedly failed to act on clear opportunities to exonerate him. Bishop Joanne said she was pleased that under the new leadership of Dame Vera, the CCRC is 'willing to engage with me and appears to be taking this matter seriously'. She added: 'I urge Dame Vera to undertake such a review now and to consider sending the case of Jason Moore to appeal.' A CCRC spokesperson said: 'We have received an application in relation to this case and a review is underway. 'We have made repeated efforts to contact all relevant parties. These efforts will continue. 'It would be inappropriate for us to discuss the application further at this stage.'