Bournemouth murder: Victim's home town raising funds for memorial (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bournemouth murder: Victim's home town raising funds for memorial

2:00pm Saturday 28th July 2012 in News By Stephen Bailey

THE home town of murder victim Sergio Marquez is now ‘waiting for him to come home, so his family may lay him to rest,’ said an ex-pat.

Shelley Exley, 42, is planning to visit the Spanish mother of the 23-year-old who was found decapitated at a flat in Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth.

Shelley lives in his home town, Coin in Southern Spain, and said: “I did not know Sergio personally, but I know his mother, Mari Carmen.

“When we bump into each other in town, we always say hello, but usually we have been too busy to sit and have a coffee.

“She has always been a hard working and very caring person.

“I haven’t had the chance to see Mari Carmen and her family as yet, but intend on doing so this weekend.

“We are all just waiting for Sergio to come home, so his family may lay him to rest.”

Sergio was working as a waiter in Bournemouth and his 29-year-old flatmate Karl Addo was arrested on suspicion of murder and has been bailed to a secure unit.

British ex-pats in Coin are now raising money for a memorial wreath and tree to plant in Sergio’s memory and have set up a Facebook page to raise funds.

Shelley, who moved to Spain from Yorkshire with her family in 1982, said: “People feel that they want to do something to show their solidarity, support and respect towards Sergio and his family.”

• SERGIO Retamar Marquez wanted to move out of the flat where he was subsequently killed, the Daily Echo has been told.

The 23-year-old from Spain was found decapitated last week.

One man visiting the scene said his friend lived at the flats adding: “Sergio had phoned the landlord before it happened to say he wanted to move out.”

The company that owns the flat, Salmore Property in Poole, has not returned calls from the Echo.

Spanish minister’s condolences

THE Spanish press has reported that the man arrested for the murder of Sergio Retamar Marquez is currently being held in a psychiatric facility.

Jorge Hernandez Mollar, the provincial deputy minister for Malaga, made the comment in the regional paper Diario Sur.

He said that the suspect is hospitalised in a psychiatric facility and apologised to the family for not being able to give a date for return of the body.

“The judicial investigation is being carried to fruition,” he said, adding: “I want to convey publicly to Sergio’s family my condolences and my feelings for the tragic death.”

Sergio, 23, from Coin near Malaga, was found decapitated at a flat on Lansdowne Road and his 29-year-old flatmate Karl Addo has been arrested.