Appeal after man's death following alleged assault

Police have appealed for information after a man was found unresponsive and later died following an alleged assault.

Officers received a report at 08:12 GMT on Thursday 3 April of a 40-year-old man who had been found unresponsive in a tent in a wooded area off Holes Bay Road.

The man was allegedly assaulted in Chapel Lane in Poole at around 13:15 BST on Wednesday 2 April 2025.

A 19-year-old man from Poole has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

Dorset Police's Major Crime Team (MCIT) have been carrying out detailed enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the man's death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.

Detective Inspector Shaun Inkpen said: "Our thoughts are very much with the family of the man who sadly died.

"Our extensive enquiries into the circumstances surrounding this death remain ongoing and I am keen to hear from anyone with information that might assist our investigation.

"I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the reported assault in the area of Chapel Lane and Dear Hay Lane between 1pm and 1.30pm on Wednesday 2 April 2025.

"I am also keen to hear from anyone who was driving or had their vehicle parked in the vicinity and may have captured relevant dashcam footage."

The force have been retracing the movements of the man who died and indications he had walked in the area of Sterte Road, Sterte Close and Holes Bay Road from about 15:15 to 16:15 BST.

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