Three bailed over pensioner murder

Police found Leonard Farrar lying in his hallway

Three people arrested in connection with the murder of a pensioner, believed to have been tortured and stabbed to death in his Leeds home, have been released on bail.

Two men, aged 24 and 29 and a 24-year-old woman, were questioned by detectives investigating the death of former merchant seaman Leonard Farrar.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said on Sunday all three had been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Leonard Farrar was the victim of a 'vicious attack'

Mr Farrar, 71, was found dead in the hallway of his home in Cardinal Road, Beeston, on 4 May - one day after his car was discovered burned out nearby.

He had been stabbed repeatedly in what police described as a "sustained attack" carried out over a period of time.

Police said Mr Farrar, a bachelor who lived alone, was last seen by a neighbour in his garden at about 1030 BST on 2 May.

A post-mortem examination revealed he had died of multiple stab wounds.

At a press conference held shortly after the murder, Detective Superintendent Howard Crowther said he "would not rule out the possibility" that Mr Farrar was tortured.

Mr Crowther said that the motive for the crime was unclear but believed that the murder and the theft of Mr Farrar's car were "inextricably linked".