Car body police look for clues

Car body police look for clues

Mr Bennett lived with his partner and son in St Mellons

Police have returned to the car park where a man was found murdered in his burning car - in an effort to find his killer.

Chef Derek Bennett, 41, was killed with a blunt instrument before his body was wrapped in a rug and set alight in his Renault Laguna.

Now South Wales Police detectives have placed a caravan in the car park of the British Legion club in the Whitchurch suburb, hoping to jog householders' memories.

Fifty officers have been assigned to the case and are following several leads, including a drugs connection - but they still need to speak to anyone with key information.

Burned

Mr Bennett, who lived with his partner and two-year-old son in St Mellons, was found in his burned-out saloon at 2100 BST on Monday. He was wearing a Cardiff City shirt.

MR BENNETT'S MOVEMENTS

Friday

1730 BST - Leaves home for Claude pub, Roath

Later - Leaves car at Cardiff International Arena

Later - Visits Clwb Ifor Bach, Womanby Street

Later - Attends house party, Rhymney

Saturday

0730 BST - Driven by friend to collect car

Monday

2100 BST - Body found in British Legion, Whitchurch, car park

The killing came as a "complete shock" to his partner and two-year-old son, according to police.

They believe he left his home earlier that evening for a pub in Roath before driving to the city centre, where he socialised before leaving for a house party.

He collected his car at 0730 BST on Saturday - but the rest of the weekend, until his body was found on Monday, is a blank.

Police want to speak to anyone who saw the Laguna - registration M839CBJ - parked outside a house, for example.

They also want to speak to three boys seen playing in the Legion car park about 1800 BST on Monday.

POLICE LOOKING FOR...

Anyone who saw Mr Bennett or his car 0730 BST Saturday to 2100 BST Monday

Three boys, one in a red and white football shirt, seen in car park at 1800 BST Monday

Contact Fairwater Police Station (029 20 571 530) or Crimestoppers (0800 555 111).

Detective Superintendent Martyn Lloyd-Evans said: "It is hoped the caravan will encourage local residents and those who frequently use the car park to pass on information they may have.

"It will also serve to reassure local residents of any concerns they may have regarding this incident."

Mr Lloyd-Evans previously said the murderers had not successfully concealed their crime - lots of forensic evidence was left in their failed attempt to ruin the car.

It is thought Mr Bennett was killed at another location before his body was left in the Legion car park.

He had been a chef in the merchant navy and later worked as a chef in the capital, but had been unemployed for about two years.