Man arrested on suspicion of murder of 'victim' who died more than ten years after suspected serious assault

A MAN has this morning (Monday 11 November) been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of Colchester man Stuart Coldicott, who died just over ten years after suffering a serious head injury. 

Stuart sustained the injury in Colchester city on 11 February 2014 and was admitted to hospital. 

He was aged 36 at the time. 

Stuart’s head injury was initially treated by medics as life-threatening. Their expertise helped Stuart’s condition to improve, and he was subsequently discharged from hospital. 

However, Stuart required a high level of complex daily care until he sadly died aged 46 in March this year. 

When Stuart died, we carried out a forensic post-mortem examination, which identified a causal link between his head injury on the 11 February 2014 and his death. As a result, a fresh investigation was launched.

During this investigation, a number of new lines of enquiry and fresh evidence have been uncovered which have led to a 61-year-old man being arrested this morning in Colchester. 

He is being questioned on suspicion of murder.

Detective Inspector Lydia George, of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, is leading the investigation.

She said: “First and foremost, the injuries which Stuart (seen after the injury top right and below before it) sustained in 2014 had a significant and long-lasting impact on him and of course his family, who continue to live with that impact to this day. 

“When Stuart died and a causal link to the head injury on 11 February 2014 was established, we began treating his death as a homicide and our fresh investigation was launched. 

“And as part of that investigation, this morning we have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, and he remains in custody to be questioned.

“We will also be speaking to a number of people who we’re considering as witnesses to gather additional information and accounts.” 

DI George added: “Since the launch of this new investigation, we have identified a number of new lines of enquiry and new evidence which has ultimately led to the arrest we’ve made this morning. 

“We’ve remained in consistent contact with Stuart’s family, and they are aware of today’s arrest.

“They also know that we will take the time that this complex investigation requires and deserves.” 

A force spokesman described what happened in 2014.

He said: "When we were alerted to Stuart being admitted to hospital with his serious head injury in February 2014, we launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding how he came to be injured. 

"Officers focused their efforts in the Barrack Street and Harsnett Road areas and examined many hours of the CCTV network which was available at the time. 

"A mobile police station was also placed in the town centre as a focal point for people to provide information.

"We established that Stuart had been seen by a number of people in the Barrack Street, Harsnett Road areas Priory area of Colchester between December 2013 and February 2014. He had been seen with a number of facial cuts and bruises. 

"Stuart sustained a serious head injury on the 11 February 2014 and officers suspected this was a result of a serious assault. 

"However, despite a complex and thorough investigation, at the time we were not able to prove his serious head injury was the result of a specific assault carried out by a specific person.

"Officers were able to secure evidence of an assault which pre-dated the 11 February incident and a man was convicted."

 In a statement, Stuart’s family said: “Stewie Coldicott was 46 when he tragically died in March 2024.

“Stewie was a dearly loved brother, brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, son and friend to everyone that knew him. 

“Stewie sustained a serious head injury, which resulted in him become a paraplegic. Although this horrific incident happened to him, he never lost his naughty sense of humour that put a smile on everyone’s faces. Nobody could replace him, and he will always remain in our hearts. 

“All the family members and friends will greatly miss Stewie very much and our mischievous family member is gone from this world but not from our hearts. 

“The family request to be left alone and allowed to grieve at this very difficult time.”