Teenager quizzed over body on bonfire

Nov 6 2007

DETECTIVES arrested a 13-year-old boy today in connection with the death of a man found on a bonfire.

Police were holding the Birkenhead boy on suspicion of murder and were due to quiz him this morning.

He was detained after the charred remains were discovered on grassland in the town.

Officers were called to the scene at Whetstone Lane, off Borough Road, at around 1am today.

They found the badly burned body trapped in the middle of the bonfire.

The age of the victim has not been released - although locals at the scene believe he is a teenager aged between 14 and 18.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said: “He was of a slight frame and a post mortem examination later today would establish his identity.”

Detectives were examining a number of theories including reports the victim was pushed into the bonfire or tragically fell.

A community bonfire was held on the grassland during the evening and attended by residents from Shaw Street and a nearby YMCA provided food.

Witnesses said at around 1am a boy ran into the hostel’s reception area and told a member of staff there was somebody on the bonfire.

He left but returned later and was arrested by officers.

A security guard from the hostel went out with a torch to investigate and found the body on the bonfire.

It is believed the fire was reignited after being put out earlier by organisers.

Neighbours earlier said they saw a man in his 30s lying next to the bonfire who openly admitted taking magic mushrooms.

At around 11pm witnesses said they saw teenagers, aged around 14, throwing burning wood at him and videoing him on their mobile phones.

An ambulance was called but the man refused to be treated and paramedics left.

It was not known today if the two incidents were connected.

A fire service source said: “We had already been to the scene once last night to put out a bonfire and were called back to reports of a bonfire with a person in it.

“What the crews found was just horrific”.

Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.