Police helicopter deployed over Havant in hunt for murder suspect of Portsmouth woman - now named
A police helicopter was deployed in the hunt for a murder suspect after a Portsmouth woman - who has now been named - was found dead.
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As reported on Friday night, two men were arrested on suspicion of murder after the discovery of 32-year-old Samantha Murphy’s body at a house.
She was found at a property on Wadham Road, North End, after officers were called there at 7.37am on Thursday (June 5).
As part of the investigation, a 32-year-old man from Petersfield and a 32-year-old man from Havant have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody at this time, police said on Friday.
Meanwhile, a police helicopter was seen on Thursday night and into Friday over Havant, Waterlooville and the A3(M) - with the force now revealing it was deployed in the search for a murder suspect.
A resident who saw the chopper in the sky for around an hour from about 12.30am on Friday said: “The helicopter was circling the A3(M), Waterlooville and Purbrook areas. It was over the Leigh Park area a lot too. It returned to its base about 1.40am.”
The National Police Air Service (NPAS), confirming they were deployed to help with the search, said: “At 11.55pm on Thursday (5 June), a police helicopter crew from NPAS Benson was deployed to the Havant area to support Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in the search for a suspect. Total flying time on the task was 54 minutes.”
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A Hampshire police spokesperson said the helicopter deployment “related to the murder investigation in Portsmouth”. Both suspects remain in custody currently.