Age: 30
Sex: male
Date: 5 Dec 2002
Place: Dales Path, Farriers Way Estate, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
Wayne Trotter was doused with petrol and set on fire as he was walking home from work just after midnight on 5 December 2002.
He had been coming home from work at the time, having worked at Renolit plastics factory in Horseshoe Close, Cricklewood as a shift team leader.
He had left his work and got on a bus at Elstree and Borehamwood train station and travelled to Furzehill Road where he got off and walked along Farriers Way and then into Dales Path where he was attacked.
However, it was noted that there was a 20 minute period between when Wayne Trotter had got off the bus and when he was heard screaming and it was not known what he had done in the time.
Several screams were heard, the first was from a woman who had screamed out, 'Stop it, stop it, leave him alone', after which Wayne Trotter was found on fire. After being set on fire Wayne Trotter knocked at five houses on the estate for help before collapsing. Neighbours then came out and threw water over him and put blankets over him after which an ambulance was called and he was taken to hospital.
After Wayne Trotter collapsed he was heard to say, 'They threw something at me. I was blinded and could not see a thing'.
Police appealed for the woman that had screamed to come forward but she never did.
Wayne Trotter had suffered 90% burns.
Two teenage boys were arrested shortly after his murder on 18 December 2002 but no charges were made.
Four other people were also arrested in the course of the investigation.
The investigation was said to have involved the police taking 750 statements, 1,600 houses being visited and more than 2,500 leads having been followed. It was also said that over 250 police officers had been involved and that the name of the investigation was Operation Refit.
Wayne Trotter was married with a child and his wife was pregnant at the time of his murder.