1:30pm Monday 20th July 2009
By Jon Reeve
DETECTIVES were today trying to piece together the final movements of a man who died after suffering a chronic head injury.
Officers launched a murder inquiry after 45-year-old Wieslaw Edward Filus was found dead in his bed by his flatmates.
Police believe he may have been attacked on the night before he died and are now anxious to find out where he was and who he was with.
Initially the cause of death was unclear and detectives had to wait for the results of a postmortem examination, which determined that he had died from a brain haemorrhage, before they confirmed it was a murder hunt last night.
A team of 25 detectives from Southampton’s major crime department are working on the investigation, which has seen the victim’s flat in Denzil Avenue, Newtown, searched for clues.
Police contacted officers in Poland to give the tragic news to Mr Filus’s family.
Confirmation that foul play was involved has left residents living in the area shocked at the murder on their doorstep and police have now circulated posters in the area.
Mr Filus’s body was found and reported to police shortly before 8am on Saturday, in an upstairs flat in the building, which contains several singleroom bedsits rented out by private landlords.
As well as carrying out a fingertip search of the property, police have carried out door-todoor enquiries in the road.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “The police came round and asked if I’d seen or heard anything, but that was the first I knew about it.
“It’s very civilised around here now, and I’m surprised something like this has happened.
“Denzil Avenue used to have a terrible reputation because of the junkies and prostitutes around, but things really have changed and now it’s mainly families with kids.
“It’s mostly eastern European residents around here, but they’re all very industrious and just go about their work.
“Most of the people around here don’t speak very good English, but they will all say ‘hello’ and there’s quite a good atmosphere and it’s a pleasure to be here most of the time.”
Another resident, who lives in the building where the dead man was discovered, said that he is sometimes concerned for his family’s safety.
“I say ‘hello’ to people when I pass them, but otherwise I don’t know anyone here, especially in the upstairs flats,” he said.
“Normally everything is quiet, except at the weekends when people drink too much and they make a lot of noise.
“They run around the building and bang on doors. I live here with my family and my wife won’t answer the door when I’m away because she is scared.”
Witnesses are being urged to call the major crime department on 0845 045 4545.
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