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Two more suspects arrested in Mike Samwell murder case

Jessica Samwell, widow of Michael Samwell, 35, visits the scene in Manchester.
Jessica Samwell, Michael’s widow, visits the scene in Manchester. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty

Police have arrested a 29-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of the murder of Mike Samwell, who is thought to have been run over by thieves stealing his car.

Two other men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested on suspicion of murder earlier this week and bailed pending further inquiries.

Samwell, 35, suffered fatal injuries after confronting thieves as they stole his black Audi S3 in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, at around 3am on Sunday. The former navy engineer was taken to hospital for treatment but died a short time later.

The 29-year-old was arrested on Wednesday evening and the 15-year-old was arrested on Thursday morning. Both were arrested on suspicion of murder and burglary, and remain in police custody for questioning.

DI Lewis Hughes, of Greater Manchester police’s major incident team, said: “This has been a fast-moving investigation and we have made significant progress since Mike’s murder and have now arrested two more people, who will be questioned by detectives later today.

“However, our inquiries do not end there and we will continue to move forward with the investigation but we still need the public’s help. If you have any information that you believe can help us, then I would urge you to please contact police immediately.”

Samwell and his wife were woken by a loud bang in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police said there were shouts from the rear of the property, where the Audi was parked, and Samwell was later found with fatal injuries.

Police believe Samwell was run over at least once. The car was later found abandoned three miles away in Whitby Avenue, Ladybarn, with extensive damage.

In a statement issued through Greater Manchester police on Tuesday, Samwell’s family said his death had “made a huge hole in our lives that can never be filled”.