Man arrested over murder of Royal Navy officer in Chorlton

Man arrested over murder of Royal Navy officer in Chorlton



The wife of an ex-Royal Navy officer who desperately called for help as he lay dying in the street after being run over by car thieves has returned to the home where he was killed.

Mike Samwell, 35, was fatally injured after he confronted intruders who had broken into his £500,000 home in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, over the weekend.

Today his devastated wife Jessica, an accountant, returned to their house surrounded by friends, family and police liaison officers.



She was later spotted leaving the property clutching a large, navy pillow.

Her chartered engineer husband was woken by a noise and had gone downstairs to discover thieves had broken into the house and stolen the keys to his £35,000 Audi S3.

He had heard a loud bang and gone outside to the parking space at the back of the house.



As he tried to stop them, they allegedly ran him over and drove off, leaving the former Royal Navy lieutenant dying in the street.

His distraught wife screamed for help as neighbours dashed to the scene and called for an ambulance. Mr Samwell died just over an hour later in hospital.

His neighbour, who lives in the basement flat next door, said he was woken at about 3am on Sunday morning after hearing the Audi hit railings, then got up to investigate.

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.'

The neighbour, who did not wish to be named, added: 'By the time I got out there, there were other neighbours out there.

'I think one of the neighbours was an off-duty policewoman so she took charge of the situation and I didn't really see him, he was groaning, his wife was obviously distraught.

'They took him away in the ambulance, it turned up pretty quickly.



'I didn't know him, I heard it all unfold and saw him taken away in the ambulance. I knew it was serious but it wasn't until midday yesterday that I found out the worst.

'Up until that point I just assumed he had suffered some serious injuries but he would be home soon.'

'But then when you hear that, it suddenly changes the situation. Obviously it's become a murder then, it's not just theft.'



The neighbour added: 'You never really hear of murders around here. There is a very high burglary rate around here.

'The postcode around here has quite a high insurance premium, because of theft.'

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

Police said the Audi was driven away erratically and at some point lost a front wheel when it hit the kerb.

The black Audi S3 sports coupe was later found badly damaged and abandoned three miles away in Whitby Avenue in the Ladybarn area of the city.



The group continued on three wheels before abandoning the car three miles away.  

DS Jon Chadwick, from Greater Manchester Police's Serious Crime Division, said: 'We have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with Mike Samwell's senseless murder.

'Our investigation is still in its early stages and we are still appealing for the public to help us.

'My thoughts continue to be with Mike's family and friends at this devastating time.'

Tributes have been paid to Mr Samwell on Twitter.

One man wrote: 'Hero and former shipmate of mine taken from us by someone who is a waste of the oxygen they breathe. Mike Samwell HMS Tireless. Go well Sir.'

Louise Barber posted: 'Mike Samwell - one in a million. Please come forward if you have any information.'

Sophie Tantam wrote: 'Sorry to hear of the tragic death of Mike Samwell. Thoughts with his wife, family, friends, and colleagues @atkinsglobal'

Yesterday mourners gathered outside Chorlton Central Church to listen to a tribute and stand in quiet reflection before walking a few minutes to the scene on Cranbourne Road.

Rev Mike Walsh, 40, led a vigil of around 30 people just after 5pm last night.

He said: 'I've been out and about talking with a lot of people in the area. It's just a huge shock to the area.

'There is a great sadness here, but we are here to show our strength, love, care and support for Michael's family. Bringing people together is the best we can do.'

The former submarine weapons officer's house is on Cranbourne Road, a short, leafy street where semi-detached houses sell for up to £500,000.

He married his long-term girlfriend Jessica, an accountant, in July 2011, at a ceremony at Styal Lodge, Cheshire.

The officer wore his service uniform and fellow officers formed a guard of honour for the couple with their swords. The couple have no children.

Mr Samwell, who studied at Leeds University, joined the Royal Navy in 2002 after training at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.