Dorset Police received a report at 8.12am on Thursday, 3 April 2025, that a man had been found unresponsive in a tent in a wooded area off Holes Bay Road.
Officers attended with the ambulance service, and very sadly the man – aged in his 40s and from Bournemouth – was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are continuing to be kept updated by officers.
Following enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, it was established that the man was allegedly assaulted in Chapel Lane in Poole at around 1.15pm on Wednesday, 2 April 2025.
As part of the investigation, a 19-year-old man from Poole was arrested on suspicion of murder, and he has now been released on police bail as further enquiries are conducted by detectives from Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT).
Police are still appealing for anyone who was in the area of Chapel Lane or Dear Hay Lane between around 1pm and 1.30pm on Wednesday 2 April 2025 to contact them if they witnessed an altercation or captured any relevant dashcam footage.
Enquiries to establish the movements of the man who died during the afternoon of Wednesday, 2 April, also remain ongoing, and detectives are keen to speak to any motorists who may have dashcam footage from the area of Sterte Road, Sterte Close and Holes Bay Road between around 3.15pm and 4.15pm.
Detective Inspector Shaun Inkpen of MCIT said, “Our thoughts remain with the family of the man who sadly died, and they have been kept fully updated with the latest developments in our investigation.
“Following extensive enquiries over recent days, an individual was arrested in connection with this incident, which was made in order to enable us to gather as much information as possible while also providing legal protection to the man concerned.
“He has now been released on police bail as we continue our detailed enquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death. We would continue to urge anyone with information that might assist us to please submit it via the Major Incident Public Portal.
“As our investigation continues, local officers can be approached by anyone with information or concerns.”
Anyone with information is asked to submit it to the investigation team via the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/55HQ24N22-PO1. If you are unable to submit information online, please call 101 quoting occurrence number 55250046778.
Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
