23-year-old charged with murder of Portuguese man in Crawley

Police searching the scene in Three Bridges where a man was found with serious injuries. He later died. (Pic by Jon Rigby)

Joao Esteves, 45, from the Lisbon area of Portugal, was found with serious head injuries at 3.25am on Sunday (January 19) in an alleyway between Stephenson Way and Haslett Avenue East.

Daniel Palmer, of Maunsell Park, Station Hill, Crawley, has been charged with murder and remanded in custody to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday January 23).

Two men aged 33 and 48 and a 22-year-old woman, all from Crawley, who were also arrested on Sunday, have been released on bail until March 12 while officers carry out further inquiries.

Detective Inspector Sean Kelly, of Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “Although we have charged Daniel Palmer with killing Mr Esteves, we still need the public’s help with details of the movements of Palmer and Mr Esteves that night.

“We believe Mr Esteves was attacked along Haslett Avenue East cycle path, opposite Three Bridges football club, where two footpaths meet at a pedestrian crossing.

“We think many people will have driven past the path either during or after the attack and may have seen something.

“They may not have come forward yet because they have not realised the gravity of what has happened there or did not realise a crime had been committed at all.

“We now need anyone who drove past the scene between 2.30am and 3.25am on Sunday to contact us so we can speak to them. You may not think that what you know is relevant but please call us so we can check - it could be vital to our investigation.”

Anyone with information about the death should call 101 quoting Operation Atlas, email [email protected] or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.