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In The South

Hampshire Police appeal for information about murdered Southampton man

Besi Besemar December 10, 2018

Hampshire Detectives investigating the murder of Gerald Pragnell whose body was found in Southampton woodlands on Saturday, November 1, are appealing for witnesses.

Gerald Pragnell
Gerald Pragnell

The 66-year-old was last seen leaving work at Southampton Airport on Thursday, November 1.

His body was found in woodlands off of Cemetery Road, by Southampton Common, on Saturday, November 3.

Officers want to speak to anyone who saw Mr Pragnell or his car and are particularly keen to speak to drivers with dash cams, who were driving around the area on the morning of Thursday, November 1, as they may have footage of his car which is a silver Mercedes GLA, reg GIW 4045.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Morgan, said: “You might not know it, but you could have vital information stored on your dash cam from Thursday November 1.

“If you were in the area of Cemetery Road between 6.30am and 8.30am, you may have captured Mr Pragnell’s silver Mercedes without realising.

“We are urging you to get in touch with us so that we can take a look.

“We’re also asking for dash cam footage from the Inner Avenue and Bedford Place area between 8am and 11am, so if you know you were out driving in the area with your dash cam recording, please get in touch.”

DCI Morgan added: “We know that people tend to follow the same weekly routine.

“We want to speak to people who were in the area on November 1 and ask them if they saw anything suspicious, saw Mr Pragnell or saw his car.

“We know joggers, cyclists and dog walkers are likely to follow certain routes, so I’d ask you to think back and try to remember if you saw either Mr Pragnell or his car in the car park.

“I’d also like cyclists to check any footage they have from head cams.”

If you have any information that could assist, call 101 and quote Operation Experience.

Alternatively, to make a report online, click here:

If you are nervous about talking to the police, ask to speak to a LAGO, Lesbian and Gay Liaison Officer.

Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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