Man arrested in Lisburn murder inquiry

A man (27) has been arrested in connection with the violent death of a man in Lisburn, Co Antrim.

A man (27) has been arrested in connection with the violent death of a man in Lisburn, Co Antrim.

The body of Mr John Cooke (33)  was found at a house on Sunday night by officers investigating a road crash.

Police were called to a hit-and-run collision on the town's Hillhall Road, and they were then alerted to disturbances on nearby Church Lane.  The bludgeoned body was found a short time later at a rented house in the area.

The car involved in the accident, a red Volkswagen Golf, was found abandoned at a house close to the scene of the killing.

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Detectives refused to give any details about a motive, but no sectarian or paramilitary involvement is suspected.

Five houses in Craigavon, Co Armagh, 20 miles from the scene, and another two in Belfast, have been searched. Forensic tests were carried out on items taken from one of the properties.