Police renew witness appeal as officers question murder suspect

Donald Lock’s grieving family paid tribute to him yesterday (Saturday July 18) after Mr Lock, 79, of Worthing, was fatally stabbed on the A24 in Findon.

A 34-year-old Worthing man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering him on Thursday (July 17).

Police have seized a knife and vehicle and have until midnight tonight (Sunday July 19) to question the man before he is released or charged.

Don’s son, Andrew Lock, supported by eight members of the Lock family at Washington Village Hall, said: “Our whole family are absolutely devastated with the loss of someone who can only be described as gentle, kind and loving.

“Full of wisdom, full of wit, always calm, always supportive, the perfect role model and full of charm.”

He added the family had been overwhelmed with messages of support and tributes to Don on social media.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz said the force had been granted further time to question the suspect. He renewed his appeal for information and thanked the public and media for their help with investigation.

He said: “If you have any information at all, no matter how unimportant you might think it is, please get in touch.”

Mr Lock was driving south on the A24 when he was involved in a minor collision with a car that was also travelling south, just past the junction with the Black Horse pub at about 8.40pm on Thursday (July 16), said a police spokesman.

“The driver of the first car then fatally stabbed the 79-year-old. The attacker then got back into his car and drove away.

“A 34-year-old man from Worthing was arrested at 2pm on Friday (July 17) on suspicion of murder. He is currently being questioned in custody.

“Officers have seized a knife and have sent it to be forensically examined.”

A post mortem confirmed that Mr Lock, from Worthing, died as a result of stab wounds.

Officers have sent the vehicle which was linked to the suspect and the knife for forensic examinations. Other items have been recovered as part of the investigation.

The Lock family’s tribute in full: “On Thursday evening dad was taken from us in what can only be described as an horrific and unprovoked attack. Our whole family are absolutely devastated with the loss of someone who can only be described as gentle, kind and loving.

“We are standing here at Washington Village Green where every Thursday evening throughout the summer the Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club, such an integral part of dad’s life, would hold our evening ten mile time trial events. Each week if dad wasn’t time keeping, he would either be pushing the rides off at the start,taking numbers at the finish or if not out around the course somewhere giving encouragement to all, not just me, not just the club riders but every single rider.

“At weekends dad would regularly head off early on a Sunday morning to a cycle event with his bike in the back of the car, park up and ride out to a certain point where he could call out support and encouragement to the various riders of the club taking part. I know many of them will miss that support and the expectation of dad appearing somewhere around the course to cheer them on.

“Dad had been cycle racing for over 60 years only stopping racing a few years ago and still kept a little diary with the miles he clocked up each week. The enter for Thursday already written in as 20 miles and 1608 miles so far for 2015. Cycling was his world and the cycling world will miss dad big time. In 1983 dad and a club mate rode from Lands End to John O’Groats, a distance of 886 miles in under 6 days, raising £1,000s for the St Barnabas Nursing Home.

“As well as dad’s cycling both he and his dad were regular supporters of Brighton & Hove Albion from the late 1940s up until the late 80s and since then dad and I have been regulars with season tickets since the Albion move to the Amex stadium. Each week where the Albion were at home I would meet dad here at Washington and then travel down together to the game, armed with our standard bags of either jelly babies or liquorice allsorts. At each game just before kick off we often noticed a single seagull sitting on the top of the opposite stand. This season I hope to see another one sitting there as well.

“As has already been stated dad had recently been given the all clear from prostate cancer, medication stopped and energy returning and he even muted the idea of doing a race with later in the year, although a few days later he did change his mind as he realised he was probably being a bit optimistic and probably concerned about how keen I was to do the race with him as well.

“The whole family are incredibly overwhelmed with all the messages of sympathy and support, the sheer volume of tributes on the various social media sites and people even changing their profile pictures to a picture of dad. To the people who tried their best to help dad at the scene we are deeply grateful for what they did and know they did all that they could. We can only say thank you to you and they are very much appreciated.

“Over recent years we have joked with mum and dad about their holidays suggesting they let us know when they are at home rather than when away, as they have travelled to all parts of the world over the last 20 or so years. They have often done things people 20 years younger would think twice about - walking over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, jet boat rides, riding ostriches and more. Mum and dad were due to go on a cruise down the Rhine next month and then a few weeks later to their beloved Kentallen Lodges near Glencoe in Scotland. A place that holds many memories for both of them.

“It is now a very difficult time for all of us and we will be working hard to support mum through the unenviable process that will follow as a result of the circumstances which will only delay the chance for us to move on and just remember dad for the fantastic person he was.

“Full of wisdom, full of wit, always calm, always supportive, the perfect role model and full of charm - Don, dad, grandad and great-grandad - the best.”

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