Barry Rubery

Barry Rubery was killed at his home in Latteridge Road, Iron Acton.

He was found lying face down in his conservatory covered in blood by a friend at 8am. His ankles and wrists had been bound with electrical flex and cable ties.

He lived at Crossing Cottage in Iron Acton which was on a large area of land on which he would rent out storage units. The cottage was notable for the red telephone boxes in the garden and its proximity to the level crossing. He was a retired farm labourer.

He was last seen alive the previous evening when he had gone out for a dinner at a masonic lodge in Bristol after which he was dropped off by a friend at 10.45pm outside his home. When he had returned, he had been wearing a black suit and carrying a briefcase.

There were signs of a struggle and evidence that he had been dragged from the garden into his house. The police said that they thought that his murderer had waited for him and there were signs of a struggle outside indicating that he didn't make it inside his house after returning home before he was attacked. His briefcase was also found on the garden path.

His house had been rummaged through with drawers and cupboards opened and several things were missing including a gold masonic pocket watch, an old Makita drill, keys, a Nokia 3310 mobile phone and an extension lead.

The police said that they thought that he had been murdered by someone he knew as they had known that he would be alone. The police added that they thought that his murderers had been looking for a particular item in his home that was personal to Barry Rubery. Amongst items taken were a gold Masonic watch, drill, Nokia phone and keys but they had left money and other high value items behind, including gold.

It was also heard that Barry Rubery had been concerned and agitated in the lead-up to his murder and that he had kept a shotgun propped-up against a door, telling a carpet fitter that saw it that it was there, 'in case the buggers came in'.

The cause of death was given as being due to a significant and sustained physical assault.

Barry Rubery had a boxing background and it was thought that he would have put up quite a struggle.

It was thought that he had been attacked by one or more men. It was also thought that the motive had been burglary.

Police were looking for a dark Land Rover Defender that had been seen outside his cottage earlier on 28 April 2010 around 10.30pm.

He was a grandfather of six.