Saturday 24 September 2011

Peckham Skeleton: Man Arrested After Remains Dumped


The skeletal remains of a pensioner, which had just been moved by someone from his South-East London flat, have been found by a dog-walker dumped in undergrowth.

Benjamin Benit, 86, (pictured) of Hevesham House, Ilderton Road, Peckham was found in nearby Lovelinch Close at 7:45am on August 10.

Three days later council workers found further remains of Mr. Benit at his flat.

He had not been seen for several years and is now believed he was dead for that period of time before his remains were recently moved.

Wood chippings found under the remains suggest Mr. Benit was placed there between 2:00pm on Friday August 5 and the early hours of Wednesday August 10 as a tree surgeon had pruned trees on the earlier date.

Detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command continue to investigate the circumstances around Mr Benit’s death and are keen to speak to anyone who may have known him.

A post-mortem at Greenwich mortuary proved inconclusive.

The death is being treated as unexplained and suspicious at this time and a seventy year-old man was arrested and bailed to a future date.

Detective Chief Inspector Damian Allain said: “I would appeal to anyone who knew Benjamin Benit and can help us to piece together his lifestyle to contact me.

“We know he was born in Southwark and served in the RAF during the war. He later spent time living in Bradford where he had a family.

“He returned to the Southwark area in the early 1980s and drank in pubs in and around the Old Kent Road and New Cross Road.

“He often told people he played for Millwall Football Club, possibly as a goalkeeper after the war.

“I am also very keen to speak to anyone who may have seen a person(s) acting suspiciously whilst moving Mr Benit’s body, which was wrapped in a sheet, to Lovelinch Close.

“It is really important to get in touch if you have information and can help.”

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4805. If you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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