Man arrested at Dover address on suspicion of murder

A cold case investigation into the 2007 death of a man in Hythe has led to an arrest on suspicion of murder.
 
Wayne Baker, also known as Wayne Sharpe, was rescued by firefighters from a property that had caught alight in St George’s Place in the afternoon of Sunday 11 November 2007.
 
He died a month later in hospital at the age of 27.

The fire was originally treated as unexplained and an open verdict was recorded following an inquest into Mr Baker’s death.

However a murder investigation was opened in January 2018 after new lines of enquiry were identified.
 
In the early hours of this morning (Tuesday 13 March 2018), officers attended an address in Dover and arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.
 
Detective Sergeant Andrea Richards of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "We are continuing to carry out enquiries into this investigation and would like to hear from anyone with information about how the fire that killed Mr Baker was started and who may be responsible.
 
"We believe there must be someone out there who knows what happened, who perhaps did not feel they could say something at the time. If that is the case then I would strongly encourage them to come forward now and help provide Mr Baker’s family with some answers.
 
"Any information provided will be handled sensitively and in the strictest confidence. Please call the cold case team on 01634 884010 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111."

Update 15/03/18: The man arrested on suspicion of the murder of Wayne Baker has been released from custody pending further enquiries.