Hunting supporter decapitated by gyrocopter: two arrested

Two have been arrested on suspicion of murder and were being questioned by officers in Leamington Spa last night.

Police are investigating whether the pilot of the light aircraft, thought to have been carrying anti-hunt monitors, intentionally flew into the victim.

It is understood that an animal rights group, Protect Our Wild Animals, has been monitoring the Warwickshire and the Heythrop hunts from a gyrocopter over the past three weeks. Masters of the hunt told The Times newspaper that one of the low-flying aircraft had been reported to the Civil Aviation Authority and the police about ten days ago, amid fears that it was upsetting animals. It was said to have been swooping in an aggressive manner over the hunt.

Between 80 and 100 hunt followers were out yesterday at the hunt in Moreton-in-Marsh on the last day of the Warwickshire hunting season. The hunt met at the village of Todenham at 11.45am and the light aircraft, first spotted at noon, followed it for about two hours.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ?On arrival at the scene crews found a pedestrian that had been in collision with an aircraft. Crews immediately assessed the pedestrian, a man, but unfortunately nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.?

Man charged with murder over hunt supporter killing

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