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Teenager released on bail after homeless man's murder

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Piotr KrowkaImage source, PSNI
Image caption,

Piotr Krowka suffered serious injuries to his head and body

A 19-year-old man, who was arrested on Friday as part of a murder investigation into the death of a homeless man in County Londonderry, has been released on bail.

The body of Piotr Krowka, a Polish national - was found in Maghera earlier this week. The 36-year-old victim had been living in the town for a number of years.

His body was discovered in a former parochial house on Glen Road on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said he had suffered serious injuries to his head and body.

The teenager was arrested in the Maghera area on Friday evening but was released on Sunday pending further inquiries.

Image caption,

Forensic officers at the former parochial house where Mr Krowka's body was found

PSNI Det Ch Insp Geoff Boyce said he believed Mr Krowka was a "vulnerable homeless man" and had been sleeping rough in the property.

The Democratic Unionist Party MLA Keith Buchanan said people in the area had been saddened by the news.

"This is a quiet, rural community where neighbours are shocked that a man has been murdered on their doorstep," he said.

"I know the entire area will be holding this man's family foremost in their thoughts."

Ian Milne, a Sinn Féin MLA, said he wanted to "send my sympathies to the family and friends of the victim".

Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,

It is understood that Mr Krowka had been sleeping rough inside the property