£20,000 reward offered after man found murdered on Southampton Common
The body of 45-year-old Ernest Konrad Deputat was found last month
A £20,000 reward is being offered for information, after a man was found murdered in woodland on Southampton Common.
The body of 45 year old Ernest Konrad Deputat, who was from Poland, was discovered last month. (8th October)
His body was close to the wildlife reserve in the centre of the Common, north of the Ornamental Lake. Investigators have said there was also evidence of a fire.
Ernest was a Polish national, who was living off-grid and known to the homeless community in the city. His family have been notified, and a murder investigation has been launched by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. At this time, no suspects or motive have been established.
The tragedy has deeply affected both the victim’s loved ones and the wider community. With a significant reward now on offer, Crimestoppers is urging anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward anonymously.
Beth Simpson, Regional Manager for South Central West at the charity Crimestoppers, said:
“Someone knows what happened in that woodland. We’re appealing to members of the public, including those who may feel nervous about contacting the police, to speak up through Crimestoppers. You can stay completely anonymous – even if you were to collect a cash reward.
“We never ask for your name and we cannot trace your call, your device or your location. This reward is there to encourage anyone with information to tell us what they know and to ensure justice is served for the man whose life ended in such a tragic way.”
Crimestoppers is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They cannot trace your call or track your IP address. No one will ever know you contacted them. This means no police, no courts, no witness statements. You may think your information is insignificant, however it could make all the difference.