Murder Investigation Launched Following Death Of Teenager From Knife Wounds

Published on: 23 Sep, 2012
Updated on: 24 Sep, 2012

A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a 19-year-old man in Westborough on Saturday evening (September 22).

Flowers laid in memory of the dead man.

The dead man has been named by neighbours as Jake Bates but this has yet to be confirmed by the police. One local Facebook page contained the message ‘Jake Bates RIP’.

Officers were called to a property in Roundhill Way, near Southway, at about 7.45pm following reports that a man had suffered serious knife wounds during an altercation.

Local residents being allowed to pass through the police cordon on Sunday morning at Roundhill Way, the scene of a suspected murder.

Emergency services attended the address and efforts were made to resuscitate the man but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder a short time later. He was initially taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford for treatment to a minor injury and later transferred into police custody.

A cordon has been put in place while enquiries are carried out by officers from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team. According to a police officer speaking at 11.30 this morning (23 Sep) the incident team had not yet arrived and the cordon would remain in place for the time being.

The dotted blue line shows the part of Roundhill Way that has been cordoned off by police

All the nearby residents spoken to by The Guildford Dragon NEWS admitted that drug dealing activity was taking place in the area but it is not known if it was a factor in this incident.

One resident said: “It has got a bit quieter, if anything, around here lately. There was a police raid on the house next door within the last couple of years. I am not that surprised this has happened.”

Another said: “I heard a helicopter overhead and then saw six police cars and a police van as well as an ambulance. Someone told me that a lad had been stabbed.

“It is normally quiet around here but I have seen for myself drug dealing going on. It is a bit worrying. I have a young boy to bring up.”

Two women were seen to be taking a bunch of flowers towards the scene. One young woman, who did not wish to comment, was in tears as she spoke to the police officer manning the cordon.

Cllr Matt Furniss, speaking on behalf of the GBC Conservative Group, said: “We are always gravely concerned about incidents of this nature which is why we continue to support and work with the police to lower serious crime in the Guildford borough.”

The police are asking anyone with information is asked call Surrey Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference p12279248.

Please check back for further updates.