Teen quizzed over van stabbing

Police are questioning a teenager over the murder of a man who was found stabbed to death in a van.

The 33-year-old, named as Robert Malcolm Richardson, from Denton, Newcastle was taken to hospital after the incident in Kirkley Close, in Gosforth, Newcastle, at 3.50pm on Friday.

Northumbria police arrested a 29-year-old woman on Saturday but she has now been released on bail pending further enquiries while a 19-year-old Newcastle man arrested at the same time remains in custody.

A spokeswoman said the death was believed to be the result of a domestic incident and the 29-year-old offender and Mr Richardson knew each other.

"It is believed that the offender and deceased are known to each other, that this was not a stranger incident," the spokeswoman said.

A 20-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, both from Newcastle, were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and later released on bail pending further enquiries.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Richardson had died from a single stab wound.

Police renewed their appeal for a number of other people believed to be involved in the incident to come forward

The spokeswoman said: "Even if what you think you've seen is a minor matter or unimportant, please call the police as your information could be of real significance to this murder investigation."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.