Overview
- Police identified the victim as David Darke, 66, who died at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham on December 27 after being punched outside The Crown Inn in Appleby Magna on December 21.
- The case, initially treated as grievous bodily harm, was upgraded to a murder investigation following Mr Darke’s death.
- A 36-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of GBH was re-arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody for further questioning.
- Detective Inspector Kevin Hames of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit is leading the investigation, which includes reviews of local CCTV and re-interviews of the suspect.
- Mr Darke’s family paid tribute, describing him as a devoted father and grandfather, while police urged anyone who was in Church Street around 9:45 p.m. that Sunday to contact them with information.