Detectives have arrested a man on suspicion of murdering a wealthy businessman more than 20 years ago in Leeds.
The suspect, aged 55, was arrested in Bradford, west Yorkshire, on Wednesday and taken into custody for questioning over the death of John Luper, 57.
Mr Luper had been out walking his dog on the evening of February 16, 2004, when he was ambushed by masked intruders near a neighbour’s driveway and dragged back to his home in Alwoodley.
His wife, daughter and the family’s au pair were tied up with duct tape and left in an upstairs bedroom as the robbers ransacked the property of jewellery, clothes and cash worth £100,000.
After freeing themselves, Mr Luper’s family found him unconscious downstairs.
Police were called at 1.45am and despite attempts to resuscitate him he was pronounced dead at the scene. Post-mortem results showed he died as a result of asphyxiation.
Among the items stolen from the property that evening was a rare platinum Cartier watch with vertical rows of diamonds either side of the face.
Mr Luper was a director of a clothing firm, a property leasing company and a non-executive director of a sports and media group.
A man, 55, has been arrested on suspicion of killing John Luper (pictured), a businessman who died aged 57 in 2004
Officers said the arrest stemmed from the results of ‘forensic materials’ found by officers (Medical examiners are pictured at the home where Mr Luper died in Leeds)
Senior investigation officer Detective Superintendent Damian Roebuck said the analysis of ‘forensic materials’ led to the suspect’s arrest this week.
He added: ‘Our investigation team are firmly committed to doing everything we can to get justice for John Luper and his family.
‘Mr Luper’s family have been updated and, while we appreciate that the arrest will understandably bring a renewed focus on the investigation, we do not anticipate any immediate developments at this stage.
‘It is more than 22 years since John’s brutal murder and we are no less determined to find out who killed him.
‘He was a prominent businessman in north Leeds so I would urge anyone who is aware of people making inquiries into him and his business dealings around the time of the murder to please come forward with names.
‘Likewise, perhaps you were approached and asked to buy jewellery from unknown people around the time of the murder.
‘This information could prove vital to our investigation.’
