Police charge man with murder

By Jonathan Barnes

DETECTIVES charged last night a 49-year-old man with murder - even though his alleged victim's body has not been found.

Michael Harvey, from Manchester, will appear in court this morningaccused of killing Ipswich man Ian Halls, 63.

Mr Halls, of Tower Mill Road, was reported missing at the end of last month and Suffolk police are still searching for his body and trying to trace his last movements.

Harvey was arrested on Friday on suspicion of Mr Halls' murder and police charged him when the custody time limit expired at 8.25pm last night.

The murder suspect, of North Down Avenue, will appear before magistrates in Ipswich to face the charge.

Police are continuing to quiz a 56-year-old man, who is also from Manchester, on suspicion of being concerned in the murder.

They applied to magistrates in Ipswich yesterday morning to extend the time they were able to detain the 56-year-old by an extra 36 hours. He was arrested on Saturday morning.

Mr Halls, a single man who lived on his own, was initially reported missing to police by his sister on January 29. He had not been in touch with his family for some time, which was out of character.

Police said Mr Halls, who regularly visited the town's main library, had travelled to France over the Christmas and New Year period, but his family believed he returned to Ipswich some time in January.

Although there were no suspicious circumstances, detectives carried out inquiries and visits in the area of Mr Halls' home in an effort to establish his whereabouts.

They arrested Harvey on Thursday on suspicion of deception in the vicinity of Mr Halls' home.

Suffolk police said they were still keen to trace the movements of Mr Halls and anyone who can help should contact Ipswich police on 01473 383133.

jonathan.barnes@eadt.co.uk