Hugh Robb Ord

Hugh Robb Ord was found at the back of his flat in Springhill Walk, Morpeth, battered to death.

He was found on the pathway outside his home just after 10pm on Saturday 15 April 1995.

He died from head injuries, including a fractured skull, but also had other injuries.

The police said that they thought that he had known his killer and had gone outside onto a footpath at the back of his flat to talk to him.

They later said:

A woman that had lived next door to him for six years said:

It was thought that before his death, Hugh Ord had been taunted by local children.

It was also noted that the week before his murder he had come home to find a glass panel in a door smashed. 

The police noted that although the local residents had been helpful, that they thought that someone must have information. 

They said:

Three men and a woman were arrested in connection with his murder, but none were charged. A file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, but they said that there was insufficient evidence to press charges. It was noted that a man in his 40s was questioned twice about his murder.

It was noted that Hugh Ord's sister had criticised the police for the way they told her of his death, stating that she was only told of his death three days after he died and that detectives told her to arrange his funeral, and only told her after she had booked the undertaker that that he might have been murdered. 

She said:

A police spokesman said:

Hugh Ord had been a regular churchgoer at Morpeth Baptist Church and had been known to help out on religious stalls at markets in Hexham and Morpeth. 

He had previously been an in-patient at St George's Hospital, Morpeth, since the age of 15, but had been released to live in the community 4-10 years earlier, around 1985 to 1991 under a Care of the Community programme.

He had been a well-known character about Morpeth, and had worked as a glass collector at the Wansbeck pub there.