Man arrested over colonel killing

Police investigating the death of a retired colonel who was murdered on his doorstep have arrested a man in his sixties.

Lt Col Robert Workman, 83, - known as Riley - was blasted with a 12-bore shotgun when he opened his front door in January.

The apparently motiveless killing baffled detectives. But they believe a recording of a 999 call made hours after the shooting in Furneux Pelham, Hertfordshire, could provide crucial evidence.

Voice experts have been analysing the tape and comparing it with the voices of people living in the area.

A police spokesman said: "In all previous cases police officers have been satisfied that the individuals they have spoken to are not the caller. On this occasion officers could not eliminate a man in his sixties from their inquiries and therefore arrested him and questioned him. He has been released on bail and further inquiries are continuing."

A police source added: "It is now a case of establishing whether this person is being difficult or whether they have something to hide."

Since the recording came to light, officers have been working on the theory that the killer had "a degree of local knowledge".

An enhanced recording of the call made to ambulance staff from a nearby village around eight hours after the shooting was broadcast on BBC1's Crimewatch UK but the voice was not identified.

The caller told the 999 operator that an ambulance was needed at Hollyhock Cottage, the name briefly given to the property 24 years ago by the colonel's wife Joanna, who died last year. The house reverted to its original name of Cock House (after its weathervane), although Hollyhock is still in some telephone listings.

When the caller was asked to spell Hollyhock, he spelled Holly Cock. He spelled Furneux as Furneaux, which is the version on the village's old sign.