Body find being treated as murder

Peter Solheim was a parish councillor

The discovery of a body off the Cornish coast is now being treated as murder.

The body of 56-year-old parish councillor Peter Solheim was found on 18 June by a trawler crew five miles off Black Head, near Falmouth.

His boat was discovered drifting in Mylor Harbour a week later and a post-mortem examination revealed a number of unexplained injuries on his body.

Police want to hear more about a man called Charlie, who was said to have arranged to meet Mr Solheim.

'Charlie' appeal

An examination of Mr Solheim's body revealed he had not been in the water long.

This and the fact that his 18ft fishing boat, the Izzwizz, was found floating in Carrick Roads has led officers to start the murder inquiry.

Detective Inspector Neil Best, leading the investigation, said it was "not feasible" that the body could have floated from Mylor to the spot where it was found.

Mr Solheim's boat, the Izzwizz, was found drifting in Mylor Harbour

He said: "When you put all these factors together, we have to conclude that this has really gone beyond an unexplained death.

"We are open-minded about motive. There are a number of things about his background that are interesting."

Police want to hear from a man called Charlie who it is thought Mr Solheim was going to meet at the time of his disappearance.

Det Insp Best said both police and Mr Solheim's family knew "very little" about Charlie and were "very keen" to discover who he was.