A man from West Sussex is still being questioned today by police investigating the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne. The girl's body was discovered in a field last month, two weeks after she went missing during a family holiday.
Detectives in West Sussex investigating Sarah's murder have not revealed the man's identity, but he is thought to be Mr Roy William Whiting (41). He was originally arrested on July 2nd, the day after the eight-year-old disappeared, in connection with her abduction and questioned for three days. His flat was also searched. He was released on bail without charge pending further inquiries but was re-arrested by police yesterday.
The police now have up to 36 hours to question the man before they must apply to a magistrate if they want to question him further. He can be held for a total of 96 hours before police must charge him or release him.
Sussex police confirmed the arrest in a statement, saying: "A man in his 40s, formerly from Littlehampton, was arrested in Crawley today and has been taken to an undisclosed police station in Sussex for further questioning by officers investigating the murder of Sarah Payne.
"We can confirm that this is the same man who was originally arrested on the evening of Sunday, July 2nd, in connection with her suspected abduction, and who was subsequently released on police bail pending further inquiries."
Det Supt Peter Kennet, of Sussex police, who is now leading the investigation into Sarah's murder, confirmed her family had been informed of the development, but he warned against premature judgments over the man's arrest. "Just because someone's arrested it doesn't mean to say that they will be charged," he said.
Det Supt Kennet also revealed that police were working on "fresh evidence" related to Sarah's murder. But he refused to issue details of the development, or whether the new evidence was a result of forensic test results or a new witness coming forward. He would confirm only that "it is being followed up, but I couldn't go into the ins and outs of it."
The arrest came after Mr Whiting appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court, West Sussex, on an unrelated matter. Detectives involved in the Payne murder case arrested him at the court and took him to a police station in the Sussex area.
Sarah Payne went missing on July 1st after playing in a field with her brothers and sister in a field close to her grandparents' home, near Littlehampton, West Sussex. After a massive police search, her body was discovered two weeks ago in a field about 10 km away in Pulborough.
Earlier, it was confirmed that the Payne family had returned to floral shrine on the A29 beside the field where Sarah's body was found. The family has visited the shrine on numerous occasions during the last two weeks and had said they would not be returning.
But it is understood that the family decided to pay a final visit on Sunday evening shortly before the thousands of flowers, cards and toys placed by the public at the side of the road were due to be taken away.
The Payne family gathered up some of the thousands of messages and tributes and Sarah's sisters and brothers took away flowers and toys, during the 20-minute visit. Some of the tributes were taken to Sarah's grandparents' house and other toys and gifts may be used as part of a family memorial service that is being planned by the family.
The memorial service takes place at Guildford Cathedral on August 12th.