Man beaten to death is named

12 April 2012

Detectives have named a man who was beaten to death and shot several times with an air weapon.

The body of murdered 37-year-old Stephen John Callaghan was found by a dog walker in a field in the Cottingham area of Hull shortly before 10am on Wednesday.

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Callaghan, of Elloughton Grove, Hull, was beaten to death and suffered severe bruising across his entire body, believed to have been caused by being kicked, punched and struck with an implement.

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said the victim was also shot "a number of times" with an air weapon.

Three teenage youths, aged 15, 17 and 18, are helping officers with their inquiries, the force spokeswoman said.

Detective Superintendent Ray Higgins, who is leading the murder inquiry, said: "This man died an horrific and agonising death and sustained horrendous injuries.

"He was brutally beaten to death in a very cruel way and it is vital that anyone who knows anything about the circumstances surrounding his death contact police urgently."

Mr Callaghan's body was found in a field off Snuff Mill Lane in Cottingham, an area which he frequented regularly.

Detectives said they were keen to piece together the last moments of his life and wanted to speak to anyone who saw him after 3pm on Boxing Day between Elloughton Grove, in north Hull, and Snuff Mill Lane, in Cottingham, a distance of around one mile.

Mr Higgins added that officers had received an anonymous call on Wednesday night from a man who provided "some very interesting information that might prove to be critical in relation to this murder inquiry."

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