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lonewolfxix
08-13-2007, 09:05 AM
Motorway shut after biker murder

A section of the M40 remains closed as police carry out searches where a motorcyclist was shot dead.

The murder victim, aged in his 30s, died on the southbound carriageway near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.

Biker gangs are a "strong line of inquiry" said police, who also want to trace the occupants of a green Rover 620 seen nearby when the man was shot.

The motorway is closed between junctions 10 and 14 northbound and between junctions 14 and 12 southbound.

About 50 specialist officers were conducting a fingertip search of the scene.

Witnesses saw car

Motorists were advised to avoid the area during the morning and use public transport or other motorway routes.

The man, who died between junctions 13 and 12, is thought to have attended the Bulldog Bash, billed as Europe's top biker party, held at Long Marston airfield near Stratford.

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out on the man's body later on Monday.

Police have said they do not believe it was a road rage attack.

The shooting bears similarities with a similar incident in 2001 when a Canadian man, who had spent the weekend at the Bulldog Bash, was shot in the leg as he rode his motorbike down the M40 towards London.

Det Supt Ken Lawrence, of Warwickshire Police, said officers wanted to speak to people travelling in the Rover 620 who may have been linked to Sunday's shooting.

"One or two witness accounts have mentioned this car being close to the motorcycles at the time something clearly happened," he said.

"It is for that reason I want to trace that car and speak to the occupants."

He said detectives were not aware of any disputes at the Bulldog Bash which could be linked to the shooting.

He added: "If there were any we are anxious to find out what they were and what they were about."

The incident caused 10-mile tailbacks in both directions with about 400 cars caught within the crime scene. They were all allowed off the motorway by Sunday night.

Paul Roberts, from Worthing, was driving along the M40 when the incident happened.

He said: "Suddenly we had to stop... soon other motorists were out of their cars and on the carriageway.

"One lady in a BMW took a first aid kit to the man who was lying on his front just next to the central reservation."

Police are appealing for any motorists travelling on the M40 who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.

Source: BBC News: Motorway shut after bike murder (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6943573.stm)

This happened a few years ago on the same stretch of motorway but last time 3 murders took place all to bikers, that is mentioned in the report.

Drake14
08-13-2007, 09:11 AM
it's the same as every other murder....

personally, i think murder has been happening for so long that it's not even THAT serious of news anymore.

then again, if it has been happening in the same place, like this one, it can be a bit more serious, it could be something as serious as a serial killer who has it out for bikers, it's hard to say until the murderer is caught.

lonewolfxix
08-13-2007, 09:16 AM
In America, murder may be common, but in Britain, it's not as common, alot of murders happening have been due to stereotyping people and thinking of them as "no good" or sometimes possibly because they saw/done something to someone else, this murder was obviously just because he was a biker, It's stupid that stuff like this is happening, I don't even know why guns are legal.

and if prejudism resulting in the murder of innocent people because of the way they look, speak or believe isn't serious news, what is? because that's what terrorism is based on, it's what most killings in the world are based on, infact, everything relating to violence is because of prejudism, even if only at the base of the chain of events.

I have been the victim of racial and prejudicial attacks, I was attacked by 10 people, mostly coloured, because of the colour of my skin, the clothes I was wearing, the style I had my hair in and who I was hanging around with, as far as I was concerned, it happened for no other reasons, I didn't even know who they were.

Drake14
08-13-2007, 09:18 AM
Guns are legal, well, at least in the US, because a lot of people rely on it for personal protections (although that does lead to a lot of murders), but other people rely on it for food when they hunt, and it's been an amendment forever, people have the right to bare arms, and i'm sure no one would ask for an amendment to repeal that, too many people have guns and enjoy having them.

As for the Britain, that may be different.

lonewolfxix
08-13-2007, 09:24 AM
We're not allowed small guns or automatic guns, we're only allowed one shot rifles which are fine for hunting, you don't need more than that.

If we didn't have guns, we wouldn't need protection, I have no problems with people having guns for protection, but if it's just senseless killing I find it really stupid.

I've thought of killing people, I'm sure everyone has, but i'll never go through with it.

Drake14
08-13-2007, 09:27 AM
well US citizens aren't allowed automatic weapons. we're allowed semi-auto. handguns, rifles, shotguns. some people have AK47's and what not, but they are semi-auto.

well sure, i'm sure i've thought of killing people, but, like you said, i would NEVER go through with it.

I can't be a cop if i have a record :)

lonewolfxix
08-14-2007, 08:58 AM
UPDATE
Biker named and other details

Shot biker followed to motorway

A biker who was shot dead with a single bullet to the back of the head was followed by his murderer onto the motorway, police have said.

Gerard Michael Tobin, 35, from Mottingham, south London, was riding near Leamington Spa when he was killed on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Tobin had visited the Bulldog Bash motorcycle festival at Long Marston airfield.

Detectives said they believed it was a pre-planned shooting.

'Good chararcter'

Det Supt Ken Lawrence, of Warwickshire Police, said Mr Tobin and two friends had been travelling down the A46 towards the M40 roundabout after the event.

He said that as the three motorcyclists rode past a layby on the road, a green Rover 600 series car pulled out and started following them.

A shot from the Rover is then believed to have been fired at Mr Tobin after the vehicles joined the motorway.

Det Supt Ken Lawrence said Mr Tobin, who was in a stable relationship and worked as a mechanic, was "a man of good character".

He added Mr Tobin was a Canadian who had lived in the UK for the last 10 years.

Source: BBC News: Shot biker followed to motorway (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/6946346.stm)