COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Officers say the investigation is in its early stages



West Midlands Police have launched a second murder investigation today (June 2) after a man has been found dead in a flat in the city.

A 57-year-old man was discovered in the property on Eden Street, Coventry at around 7.30pm last night (June 1).

A 54-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody.

Police are appealing for witnesses and say the investigation is in its early stages.

Detective Inspector Hannah Whitehouse, from the force's homicide team, said: “We’re in the very early stages of our investigation.

“A man has sadly lost his life so we’re doing all we can to determine what happened to him and who was responsible.

“I’d urge anyone who may have seen anything suspicious, or who has any information to contact us as soon as possible."

Man charged with murder of flatmate remanded in custody



A man charged with murdering his flatmate in Coventry has appeared in court today (June 5).

The body of Anil Vegad was found at his home in Eden Street, Paradise, on Monday, June 1, and a murder investigation was launched.

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Vegad died as a result of a stab wound to his back.

His family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

Matthew Chibnell, 54, of the same address, was arrested after handing himself in to police on the same day. He was charged with the murder of 57-year-old Mr Vegad last night.

Chibnell appeared in the dock at Coventry Magistrates' Court today where the case was sent on to the crown court and no pleas were entered.

He will next appear at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday, June 9, and was remanded in custody.

Coventry man left flatmate's body in property for six weeks after murdering him



A man from Coventry has been convicted of murdering his flatmate, whose body he left in the property for six weeks before contacting police.

Matthew Chibnall stabbed his flatmate Anil Vegad in the neck and used his bank card to buy alcohol while his body lay there in the flat on Eden Street.

Chibnall finally attended Coventry police station on June 1 this year - when he could no longer access the victim’s funds - to reveal he had killed his friend.

As soon as police had the information they attended the flat and found 57-year-old Mr Vegad dead in the living room after suffering a stab wound to the back.

There were also two other deep knife marks in a chair.

Chibnall claimed he had thrust a knife towards the chair where Mr Vegad had been sitting to get his attention - as he was behaving erratically.

He alleged it happened after they had been drinking during Easter Monday, and it was the following day his friend felt unwell and collapsed.

Despite Chibnall telling officers: "If you do the crime, you gotta do the time I suppose", upon being charged with murder, he went on to deny deliberately killing his friend.

However, West Midlands Police were able to prove that he intended to kill or seriously harm Mr Vegad and the 55-year-old was convicted following a trial at Coventry Crown Court.

He will be sentenced at a later date.