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Michael Bretton Charged With Murder After Remains Found in Gurney Slade

The investigation shifts to court proceedings with detectives seeking dashcam footage to map New Year’s routes.

Overview

  • Avon and Somerset Police said Bretton, 40, of Armoury Road, Shaftesbury, also faces a stalking charge involving fear of violence and has been remanded to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Friday, January 16.
  • Human remains located near Roemead Road in Gurney Slade are believed to be those of 40-year-old Craig Hurcombe, though formal identification and a post-mortem are still outstanding.
  • The Major Crime Investigation Team continues searches and forensic inquiries with support from Wiltshire and Dorset forces, using drones, search dogs, and CCTV and digital analysis.
  • Officers appealed for dashcam footage from Roemead Road and Roemead Lane, Simbriss Road, Pound Lane, Galley Batch Lane, and Golf Links Lane between 6pm on January 1 and 2am on January 2, plus a window from 11pm on December 30 to 2am on December 31.
  • A Major Incident Public Portal is open for submissions, and a mandatory referral has been made to the IOPC due to previous police contact, with officers noting no known increased risk to the public.