Cafe murder motive still unknown

Police believe someone must know who killed Andrew Cresswell

The family of a cafe owner murdered at his business in Kent have appealed for anyone with new information to come forward one year after his death.

The body of Andrew Cresswell, 51, from Pluckley, was found at Unit 2 on the Pivington Mill industrial estate, in Pluckley, on 11 November 2008.

"My mother died shortly before Andrew was killed so it has been a really awful time," said sister Sue Harris.

Chief Insp John Frayne said police had still not been able to find a motive.

Mr Cresswell was hit on the head with a weapon. Three men arrested on suspicion of murder soon after the killing were later released.

"It has always been the belief of the senior investigating officer that somebody must know who did this and is potentially protecting them by their silence," said Chief Insp Frayne.

Ms Harris said her brother lived on the premises where he ran the cafe and also had a workshop.

Sue Harris said her brother was very popular in the Pluckley area

"He was the only person there at night," she said.

"He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The police have said it was not personal to him.

"Maybe there were some people looking for something to steal and that was it."

She said Mr Cresswell's hobbies were aviation and archeology and he was popular locally, with many friends.

"We would just like the people responsible brought to justice," she said.

"It is very hard to accept that there has not been a court case."

Chief Insp Frayne said police had exhausted all lines of inquiry.

"We never close murder inquiries," he said.

"At some stage in the future there may be a scientific development, or someone who has that one piece of information that will assist us may come forward."