Police ask for Ordsall community help in hunt for killers of Lee Erdmann

September 9, 2012, 11:04 pm

Police say the community in Ordsall holds the key to catching the killer of Lee Erdmann, one year on after he was gunned down in a local pub.

Today, Monday 10 September 2012, marks the anniversary of the death of Lee, who was shot by a gunman while enjoying a drink in the Wellington pub on Regent Road, Salford.

Since then officers have worked tirelessly to piece together the exact circumstances of what happened that night and who might be responsible.

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However, despite the fact GMP⿿s largest reward of £50,000 for information leading to a conviction remains available, officers have yet to receive the piece of evidence that would help secure a conviction.

Now, a year on since his death, officers are making a direct appeal to the community of Ordsall ⿿ tell us who pulled the trigger and help continue the community⿿s recovery from events over the last 12 months.

Lee, 37, was shot in the Wellington pub on Regent Road, Salford, at around 2.50am on Saturday 10 September 2011.

It is believed Lee had been standing at the bar, in the lounge of the pub, when another customer he had been talking to calmly shot him in the chest and then left. There had been no argument between the two men or anyone else.

An extensive investigation carried out by the Major Incident Team has seen officers interview hundreds of people, a number of which were in the pub at the time of the shooting.

Detectives continue to believe a number of witnesses from the pub have yet to come forward.

Six men have been arrested and bailed over the shooting, but detectives continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Inspector Dave Henthorne, who helps oversee policing in Ordsall, said: “This was a murder that quite rightly shocked the community and left a mother devastated.

“Lee’s mum Pat will tell you the heartbreaking effects of having one of your children taken away from you well before their time.

“I have worked on the streets of Ordsall for some time and supervise the Neighbourhood Team here.

“Over the last 12 months there have been a number of high profile incidents in the area and during this time I have noticed a change from within the community.

“People are now starting to come forward more often with information, we then act upon this and the community can see some real tangible results from their intervention. People in the community tell me that they’re more hopeful about the future and have seen some real positive changes in the area, I too have noticed this and like them I want this to continue

“I have felt people coming together in recent months and I know they want this positive feeling to continue.

“I am immensely proud of Ordsall and its people and I firmly believe that they want to put this incident behind them and they know a conviction for the killer of Lee Erdmann would help residents move on.

“This represents possibly the best chance for the community to look within itself and give us the information we need to bring Lee⿿s killer to justice. We know the answers lie within Salford and, more specifically, we know the key to this lies within Ordsall itself.”

Detective Superintendent Jon Chadwick, of the Major Incident Team, is leading the investigation. He said: “People have been reluctant to tell us the whole story of what they saw.

“We want to break through that and remind people that we have a range a measures available to us to ensure you are not identified if you speak to us and to keep you and your family safe.

“The life-changing sum of £50,000 remains available for anyone providing information leading to the conviction of those responsible for Lee’s murder. In addition to this, because the Wellington CCTV hardrive was stolen at the time by those involved, a reward of £20,000 is offered for any information leading to the recovery of CCTV footage showing how Lee was murdered – whether this leads to conviction or not.

“There is also a £10,000 reward offered for information leading to the recovery of the firearm used to kill Lee, again whether this leads to conviction or not.

“I would like to remind people that these rewards can all be claimed anonymously via Crimestoppers. The police need never know who you are.”

Councillor David Lancaster, Deputy Mayor for Salford City Council, said:  “This murder shocked the people of Salford and is not representative of our city.  The vast majority of people that live here are good people and we only need one person to come forward and provide information, even anonymously, that will help police to put the pieces of the jigsaw together and bring the killer to justice.  Then Mr Erdmanns family can grieve properly and stop this incident hanging over the city.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Incident Team on 0161 8561722 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.