A 26-year-old man who had recently returned to the UK has been found dead at a sacred stone circle in Derbyshire, sparking a murder investigation.
The victim, whose name has been withheld, was found in the early hours of Monday morning at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle, a site considered sacred by Pagans. The police have described the killing as "brutal" and have appealed for anyone who was in the area over the weekend to come forward.
The victim's family has released a statement expressing their grief and shock at the news. They have asked for privacy and understanding as they try to come to terms with their loss.
The police are urging anyone who attended the summer solstice event at the stone circle to contact them urgently. They are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who has video footage from the event or who witnessed vehicles arriving and leaving the area over the weekend.
The victim had recently returned to the UK after a period of traveling and had planned to resume his travels. He had been working as a joiner at a building firm in Nottingham before leaving for his travels.
The police have promised to do everything in their power to bring the perpetrator to justice and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
The Nine Ladies Stone Circle is a significant site for Pagans, with many groups conducting rituals and ceremonies there throughout the year. The site is steeped in history and is traditionally believed to depict nine women turned to stone as a punishment for dancing on a Sunday.
