Scottish link to body in building

Jan 3 2009 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

DETECTIVES are closer to establishing the identity of a man whose body was found in a Northumberland village more than a week ago.

It was initially thought the man may have been of Latin American origin after a piece of paper bearing a Cuban address and the name Lazaro Reyes Balmaseda was found on the body.

But Northumbria Police confirmed yesterday that while no formal identification had been made, investigations led them to believe the dead man is connected to the Galashiels area of Scotland.

The man, aged around 55 and 5ft 6in tall, was found dead in a derelict building on the B1340 on Fallodon Road on the outskirts of Christon Bank village near Embleton on December 23.

There is not thought to be any third-party involvement in the death.

A police spokeswoman said: “We are still in the process of formally identifying the man.

“However, we believe he is connected to the Galashiels area of Scotland and we are trying to trace his next of kin.”

The man had been seen recently in the area with a silver and white bicycle.

His body is understood to have been found by beaters.

A villager told how the man had been spotted in the village on a number of occasions, pushing his bike around.

He said: “He didn’t have a home. but there used to be an old byre where he stayed.

“I understand it was one of the beaters who found him. They were out on a shooting day.

“He was inside the building and they reckon what happened is he had fallen through the floorboards and broken a leg.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on (0345) 604-3043.

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