Dead man was due in court

A murder victim found shot dead on a canal towpath near Nottingham had been due to appear in court on Thursday to face a drugs charge.

Simon Luffman's body was found on the Nottingham Canal towpath near Coventry Lane, in Bramcote, on Sunday night.

He had been shot in the head.

The 39-year-old of Cromford Road, Langley Mill, had been due before Derby Crown Court to face a single charge of possessing a controlled Class B drug.

Appeal to poachers

Catherine McKeever, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Luffman was now dead and the case was adjourned so evidence of his death could be prepared.

A murder enquiry was launched earlier this week after a post-mortem at Leicester Royal Infirmary confirmed Mr Luffman had been shot.

Police say Mr Luffman had been unemployed for 12 months and they are now trying to find out more about him and his lifestyle.

They hope that poachers, who may have been in the area around the time of his murder, will come forward with information.