A message of reassurance to the community of Hemel Hempstead has been put out by the new top cop in charge of crimefighting in Dacorum following the murder of Thomas Baird.
It comes as police reveal that they have been granted a 36-hour extension to question a 30-year-old man arrested on Saturday on suspicion of murder.
Firefighters were called to a house blaze in Westerdale, Highfield, in the early hours of Saturday, where a 63-year-old man was discovered dead inside. A post mortem examination later revealed that he had not died as a result of the fire, but was killed by trauma injuries to his head and neck and stab wounds to the chest.
Dacorum Chief Insp Glen Channer, who took up the post last month, said: “I want to reassure the people of Hemel. This is not a stranger attack, these people were known to each other and for whatever reason - which will come out later - the man was murdered.
“This is a one off type of incident, it is not common.
“Our specialist officers are supporting family members at the moment.
“If anyone has any information please phone in on the non-emergency number 101 or if they feel they would rather go through Crimestoppers then please do.”
Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
>Read our latest news report on the murder by {http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/local/highfield-murder-police-name-victim-63-1-4847407|clicking here}