Forensic samples reveal new evidence in Smethwick hit and run case
Minute forensic samples left on the clothing of a pensioner who died after being hit by a car in a Smethwick street last year may lead to fresh witnesses, say police.
Bill Fenton, 73, was killed following a hit and run collision in Beakes Road at the junction with Stanhope Road at 9.30pm on Saturday, November 23 last year.
Following an extensive examination of the scene of the crash together with Bill's clothing, two paint samples ? one measuring just 0.25mm - were found which are believed to belong to the car responsible.
The colour of the paint has been identified as 'Lido Blue' and enquiries have revealed the suspect car to be a Fiat Punto of model year '03 to '06.
Collision investigators have tracked all relevant Puntos registered in the vicinity of the collision and the wider area of Smethwick, Dudley, Wolverhampton and parts of Birmingham.
Officers are making a specific plea to garages who may have worked on a damaged Punto of this description, any families or neighbours who know a similar vehicle and may not have seen it since late last year.
Police have also made checks with local scrapyards in a bid to try and identify the vehicle.
In a further bid for eye-witnesses, police have released CCTV of the cars who may have seen the collision or were in the road at the time and may have vital information.
The CCTV shows the Punto overtaking a vehicle which is possibly a Volvo XC60 and drives along the wrong side of the road and turns right at the junction onto Bearwood Road as the Volvo turns left.
Sgt Paul Hughes, from the Collision Investigation Unit, said: "We have spent the last six months trying to find the person and vehicle which hit Bill.
"We have been in regular contact with Bill's family and updated them at every stage of the investigation; we are determined to know what has happened to him in order to help his family come to terms with his death.
"The vehicle may have damage to the front offside following the collision and may well have been repaired by now.
"We would continue to ask anyone with information about what happened that night to come forward and speak to us or Crimestoppers."
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
