Stabbing horror in quiet Rose Green street

Bob Floyd, of Elbridge Crescent, was not present during a brief hearing at Worthing Magistrates' Court on Monday (August 31) morning.

He was ordered in his absence to appear before Lewes Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on November 19.

Floyd, 64, has been charged with murdering his son, Lee Floyd, 36, last Saturday at the terraced chalet bungalow believed to be shared by three generations of the family on the Willowhale Farm estate.

DCI Jeff Riley, who is heading the investigation, said: "We would like to speak to friends of both Bob and Lee.

"Anyone who may have information relevant to this investigation is urged to call us on 0845 60 70 999 and quote Operation Yewtree.

"They can also ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

One of the family's neighbours, John Bass, spoke about the shock of such an major incident happening in the area.

Mr Bass was one of the first residents to move on to the estate in March 1972. He said: "We are quite shocked.

"Nothing like this has ever happened here before. This is a nice quiet residential area."

The family involved were not members of the residents' association which Mr Bass founded last year to fight redevelopment plans for the estate.

"We knew the grandparents quite well because they had a garage next to ours at one time.

"They have been here for a long time but their son and grandson kept themselves to themselves," he said.

It was just before 1pm last Saturday when police were called to Elbridge Crescent following reports a man had been stabbed. A kitchen knife was recovered from the scene.

About six police cars attended the emergency. The police helicopter landed on a grassed area at the Pryors Lane end of the road.

An air ambulance also landed on nearby Avisford Park recreation ground, opposite Mr Bass' home.

But the efforts of the airborne doctor and local paramedics could not save the life of Lee Floyd. He died at the scene.

Elbridge Crescent was closed for up to three hours. The buses on the 60 route which serve the estate were diverted along Pryors Lane during that time.

* Police are still investigating the murder of Polish man Marek Pudlowski. The 51-year-old was found dead on a seat on the seafront, opposite the pier, about 3pm on August 3.

He had been seriously assaulted. No update was issued this week by the detectives leading the hunt for the killer.

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