Colchester murder arrest as man dies ten years after attack

Stuart Coldicott sustained a serious head injury in the city back in February 2014 and was admitted to hospital.

He was aged 36 at the time.

Stuart’s head injury was initially treated by medics as life-threatening. Their expertise helped Stuart’s condition to improve, and he was subsequently discharged from hospital.

However, Stuart required a high level of complex daily care until he died aged 46 in March this year.

When Stuart died, police carried out a forensic post-mortem examination, which identified a causal link between his head injury on February 11, 2014 and his death.

As a result, a fresh investigation was launched.

During this investigation, officers say "a number of new lines of enquiry and fresh evidence have been uncovered".

Now, this morning, a 61-year-old man has been arrested and is being questioned on suspicion of murder.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of Colchester man Stuart Coldicott (Image: Essex Police)

Detective Inspector Lydia George, of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, is leading the investigation.

She said: “First and foremost, the injuries which Stuart sustained in 2014 had a significant and long-lasting impact on him and of course his family, who continue to live with that impact to this day.

“When Stuart died and a causal link to the head injury on 11 February 2014 was established, we began treating his death as a homicide and our fresh investigation was launched.

“And as part of that investigation, we have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, and he remains in custody to be questioned.

“We will also be speaking to a number of people who we’re considering as witnesses to gather additional information and accounts.

"Since the launch of this new investigation, we have identified a number of new lines of enquiry and new evidence which has ultimately led to the arrest we’ve made.

“We’ve remained in consistent contact with Stuart’s family, and they are aware of today’s arrest.

“They also know that we will take the time that this complex investigation requires and deserves.”

Stuart Coldicott pictured before the incident in 2014 (Image: Essex Police)

Early investigation in 2014

When officers were alerted to Stuart being admitted to hospital with his serious head injury in February 2014, an investigation was into the circumstances surrounding how he came to be injured.

Officers focused their efforts in the Barrack Street and Harsnett Road areas and examined many hours of the CCTV network which was available at the time.

A mobile police station was also placed in the town centre as a focal point for people to provide information.

Police say they established that Stuart had been seen by a number of people in the Barrack Street, Harsnett Road areas Priory area of Colchester between December 2013 and February 2014. He had been seen with a number of facial cuts and bruises.

Stuart sustained a serious head injury on February 11 and officers suspected this was a result of a serious assault.

However, despite a complex and thorough investigation, at the time we were not able to prove his serious head injury was the result of a specific assault carried out by a specific person.

Officers were able to secure evidence of an assault which pre-dated the February 11 incident and a man was convicted.

'Dearly loved'

Following the murder arrest, Stuart's family has paid tribute to him.

They said: "Stewie Coldicott was 46 when he tragically died in March 2024.

“Stewie was a dearly loved brother, brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, son and friend to everyone that knew him.

“Stewie sustained a serious head injury, which resulted in him become a paraplegic.

"Although this horrific incident happened to him, he never lost his naughty sense of humour that put a smile on everyone’s faces.

"Nobody could replace him, and he will always remain in our hearts.

“All the family members and friends will greatly miss Stewie very much and our mischievous family member is gone from this world but not from our hearts.

“The family request to be left alone and allowed to grieve at this very difficult time.”