Headlines
Murder of brother and teenager “a waste”
17th March 2009
On Thursday March 12th, a Hereford teenager was brutally attacked in the underpass between Sainsbury’s and ALDI, writes Shae Courtney. Daren Loader, 17, of Whitecross Road, Hereford, was ambushed by four men thought to be of Eastern European origin. He was beaten by the four men and died on Friday morning at Hereford County Hospital from severe head injuries. Loader’s girlfriend, also 17, attempted to fend the attackers off and sustained a broken arm. West Mercia Police said that Loader was with a group of female and male friends when an altercation broke out at approximately 10pm on Thursday night. The four attackers fled the scene whilst two other members, thought to be Loader’s friends, were arrested for public order offences. The murder has rocked the community prompting Herefordshire County Council to make a brief statement on the event: “Murders are just so rare here that we have all been left very shocked. Now is the time for all our diverse communities to stick together.” Superintendent Kevin Pucell said that more police officers would be deployed around the city to prevent any reprisal attacks occurring. West Mercia Police said that they could not rule out the possibility that the attack was racially motivated. Daren’s brother, Colin (19), said that his younger sibling was looking forward to joining the Army and “had his whole life ahead of him.” Daren’s mother, father and stepsister were too distraught to make a statement to the Press on Saturday, but his aunt, Sian Hughes, said: “Someone must have seen something.” and appealed for witnesses to come forward. Up to fifty detectives, ‘house-to-house’ teams and forensic officers have been working on the case. Tributes poured in to Darren’s Bebo page. One from ‘Amber’ said: “Such a funny, caring boy taken away from us at the beginning of his life. Will be surely missed by many.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident should call West Merica Constabulary on 0300 333 3000