Plea for help in skydiver murder

Stephen Hilder's parachutes had been tampered with

Police investigating the murder of a skydiver whose parachute was sabotaged are asking people who were at an earlier skydiving event to come forward.

Army officer cadet Stephen Hilder, 20, from Hereford, took part in a parachuting competition in Northumberland two months before plunging 13,000 feet to his death at Hibaldstow Airfield, north Lincolnshire, on 4 July.

Humberside Police begun a murder inquiry after finding the cord on his main parachute and the strapping on his reserve chute had been deliberately severed.

They say Mr Hilder competed in an event held at the Border Parachute Centre at Brunton Airfield in Chathill, Northumberland.

He attended the contest between Friday, 2 May and Sunday, 4 May and it is understood he took third place in one of the competitions he entered.

Detective Superintendent Colin Andrews said: "We have spoken to most people who were with Stephen at Hibaldstow during the week he died in July and are now keen to trace skydivers who have spent time with him at other events.

"We want to speak to anyone who was in his company there, or anyone who saw him with other people or know of any disagreements or significant events that took place in Northumberland."