Police trying to trace relatives of man who died after assault

Officers were called at 3.25am on Sunday (19 January) after a 45-year-old Portuguese man was found seriously injured in an alleyway between Stephenson Way and Haslett Avenue East.

Three men aged 23, 33 and 48 and a woman aged 22, all from Crawley, were arrested yesterday on suspicion of murder.

All four are in custody being questioned.

The victim was initially treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton but died on Sunday afternoon.

He was carrying a Portuguese ID card and officers are liaising with the Portuguese authorities to try to confirm that the information on the card is accurate.

The Portuguese authorities are also trying to trace the man’s relatives so they can bring them to Sussex to identify the victim.

Detective Chief Inspector Jason Taylor, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “We are still trying to get in touch with the man’s relatives to break the news to them and to ask them to identify the victim for us.

“Four people are still in custody being questioned but we still need witnesses to come forward and tell us what they saw or heard in the area between 10.30pm on Saturday and 3.25am today.

“If you have not spoken to us but know anything at all about what happened - or know someone who does - please get in touch.”

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