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Man arrested in connection with taxi driver death is released without charge
A MAN arrested in connection with the death of Derbyshire taxi driver Stuart Ludlam has been released without charge.
The 32-year-old was arrested in Derby yesterday and was quizzed by detectives investigating the death of Mr Ludlam, of Darley Dale.
He was released by Derbyshire police this afternoon.
The body of father-of-three Mr Ludlam was found in the boot of his Ford Focus estate taxi outside Cromford railway station last Thursday.
A post-mortem examination had revealed he had died of a gun shot wound.
The latest development in the case came as friends of Mr Ludlam announced details of a public tribute in his memory, which is due to take place in Matlock this weekend.
Since his death, more than 1,250 people have joined a group set up in his memory on the social networking website Facebook.
Some members of the group have organised a gathering near the Co-op store, in Bakewell Road, Matlock, on Saturday afternoon.
It will include a procession of taxis, which will sound their horns after a two-minute silence at 3pm.
One organiser, who asked not to be named, said: "The tribute is really about pulling together as a community, letting people grieve and showing our support to the family.
"We have chosen to hold the tribute at 3pm because Stuart was a massive Derby County fan and that is kick-off time.
"We also want people to wear their own Rams shirts to the tribute."
Friends of Mr Ludlam have also called for a plaque to be installed in his memory outside the Bakewell Road taxi rank.
Floral tributes have been left at Cromford railway station, and include messages from Mr Ludlam's three children, Jonathan, 15, Matthew, 12, and two-year-old Aimee.
Chief Superintendent Peter Lewis, who is in charge of policing Derbyshire Dales, thanked members of the public who had given officers information.
He said: "As a result of assistance from the media and the public, we have been given information which has provided us with several new lines of inquiry.
"We are still piecing together Mr Ludlam's movements on the day of his death and want to speak to anyone who saw him or his vehicle."
Mystery surrounds what happened to Mr Ludlam, of Yew Tree Close, in the hour leading up to his death.
He was last seen leaving the offices of Wirksworth-based MJ's Taxis at 11.40am on Thursday, driving his silvery-green estate.
Radio and telephone contact with him was then lost for about an hour before his body was found in the secluded station car park, in Lea Road.
A passer-by spotted the 43-year-old's body and called police. Mr Ludlam was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Monday, police said they were keen to trace two white men seen on the station platform in the hour before Mr Ludlam's body was found.
One was of large build, with short hair. He was wearing a light-coloured baseball cap and light top, in his late-30s to early-40s, about 5ft 10ins tall and clean shaven.
The second was of medium build, with dark, short hair, in his mid-40s and wearing dark clothing.
Officers were also looking for another man, seen at about 9.45am walking along the river towards Cromford. He was of Eastern European or Turkish appearance, in his early to mid-30s, of medium build, 5ft 6ins tall with short, jet black hair.
He had a thin face and was wearing baggy, light-coloured trousers and a loose-fitting jacket.
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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