MURDER squad detectives hunting the killer of Deborah Townsend arrested a third person in connection with the inquiry yesterday.The 40-year-old man, from Clacton, was arrested during the afternoon on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and taken to Felixstowe police station where he was being questioned by detectives last night.

By David Lennard

MURDER squad detectives hunting the killer of Deborah Townsend arrested a third person in connection with the inquiry yesterday.

The 40-year-old man, from Clacton, was arrested during the afternoon on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and taken to Felixstowe police station where he was being questioned by detectives last night.

Meanwhile, another man arrested as part of the north Suffolk murder inquiry has been released on police bail.

Detectives arrested the 36-year-old man, from Romford, on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice as part of their investigation earlier this week.

A police spokesperson said yesterday the man had been released on police bail and is due to return to Ipswich police station on Monday, October 3.

A 41-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder after voluntarily attending Barking police station is also currently on police bail and due to attend Ipswich police station on October 3.

Police launched a murder hunt following the discovery of human blood and hair on the A146 road at Beccles on Friday, July 15.

The body of 35-year-old Ms Townsend, also known as Deborah Hamilton, of East Ham, London, was discovered in the back of silver grey coloured 04 registration Landrover Discovery in the grounds of Newland Hall, Roxwell, near Chelmsford, on Saturday, July 16.

Police are still anxious to trace anyone who was on the A146 at Beccles, especially anyone who saw anything unusual in the layby areas by the household waste site near the Morrison's Supermarket roundabout either late on Thursday, July 14 or during the early hours of Friday, July 15.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Rick Munns, said: “We are aware that there is usually a lot of activity in this area on Thursday and Friday nights and that the laybys are used as a meeting place for groups of people.

“I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that anyone who was in this area on the night in question contact us as they may have information that could prove vital to this inquiry.”

Officers are still trying to trace the blue/mauve Citroen C3 car, registration LF52 BFJ, that Ms Townsend had access to prior to her death.

Detectives are also trying to trace her partner, Christopher Caunter, 33, who has not been seen the discovery of Ms Townsend's body.

Anyone with information that could help the inquiry is asked to contact the police incident room hotline on 01473 613588.