Manchester murder: 'Devastated' wife of former naval officer run down outside home returns to scene of death

The wife of a former Royal Navy officer who was run down by thieves as he confronted them outside his house has returned to the scene of his murder.

Jessica Samwell was pictured returning to the Manchester home she shared with husband Mike before he was knocked down by thieves in his own car on Sunday morning.

Mr Samwell, 35, had gone out to confront the intruders who had broken into his home as he and his wife slept in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police believe that, when he tried to prevent the intruders from stealing his black Audi S3 sports coupe, they ran him down and fled.

He was found badly injured in a parking area at the rear of the house in Chorlton and died little more than an hour later in hospital.

On Monday his devastated wife returned to their home with friends and police liaison officers and was seen leaving later on clutching a pillow.

According to the Mail Online, Mrs Samwell had screamed for help and called an ambulance as her husband lay dying in the street.

A neighbour told the newspaper that he was woken at about 3am on Sunday morning after hearing the bang of the car hitting the railings.

He said: “Then I heard his wife screaming. She was screaming for help and his name. I was still kind of half asleep, which is what woke me up.”

Detective Superintendent Jon Chadwick, from Greater Manchester Police, said that he went downstairs after the couple heard noises coming from the ground floor.

He said: "This is the murder of an innocent man who has merely sought to protect his property from criminals.

"We will not stop until we have found the person responsible for this dreadful crime."

On Monday police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

Mr Samwell's car was found badly damaged and abandoned three miles away in Whitby Avenue in the Ladybarn area of the city.

Mrs Samwell had been left "devastated" and was being comforted by her family, Mr Chadwick said.

He said that they knew Mr Samwell went downstairs after being alerted by noises and ended up out the back of the house where he was hit by the car.

Cranbourne Road, where the crime took place, was cordoned off on Sunday afternoon as forensics officers combed the scene for clues.