Murder victim killed by single knife wound; MAN DIED AFTER STREET DISTURBANCE

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), June 23, 2009

Byline: ADAM JUPP

A MURDER victim was killed by a single knife wound to the chest.

Police today named Lee Matthewson, 21, as the man found dead after a disturbance on Bolam Drive, Ashington.

Officers were called to the street in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Mr Matthewson was taken to Wansbeck District Hospital. He was pronounced dead at around 5.45am.

Today, detectives were continuing to question three men arrested in connection with the attack, as they renewed their appeal for witnesses.

Det Chief Insp Paul Young, who is leading the investigation, said: "I would urge anyone who witnessed or heard a disturbance in the area of Bolam Drive on the night of Sunday, June 21, or the early hours of Monday, June 22, to please come forward." Det Chief Insp Young said he was trying to build a picture of events leading up to the murder and wants to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time.

Police were called to Bolam Drive following reports of an altercation.

Community support officers were today present outside the ground-floor flat, which was at the centre of the incident.

A handful of floral tributes were laid outside the property.

One said: "To Moochy. You were a great lad." A neighbour, who lives in the nearby miners' cottages, said: "I heard there was supposed to be a party on the night it happened." Police arrested three men - two aged 19 and one 18 - after the incident and they continue to help officers with their inquiries.

Home Office pathologists spent yesterday carrying out a post mortem.

It concluded Mr Matthewson, of Amble, Northumberland, died from a single stab wound to the chest.

Supt Allan Brown, of Northumberland area command, said: "The local neighbourhood policing officers are in the area providing reassurance to the public.

" I'd ask anyone with any concerns or who has any information about this incident to contact their local policing team." Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Bolam Drive, Ashington, between midnight and 1am to call 03456 043 043..

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INVESTIGATION: Police and forensic officers look for clues in Bolam Drive, Ashington, yesterday BREAKING NEWS: Last night's front page