GUILTY UK - Jason Betts, 38, tortured, beaten to death, Yate, Gloucestershire, 5 March 2015

The death of a man found unconscious at a flat in South Gloucestershire is being treated as murder, police say.

Jason Betts, 38, from Yate, was taken to hospital after he was found at a flat in Celestine Road in the town on Thursday. He later died.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died of a head injury.

Detectives said a 37-year-old man from London has been arrested in connection with the inquiry and was due to be questioned.

Det Ch Insp Andy Bevan, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We're treating Jason's death as murder due to the injury he received and the suspicious nature of his death.

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The death of a man who was found unconscious at a flat in Yate is now being treated as murder.

Officers with the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) are leading the inquiry into the man’s death.

The victim has been formally identified as 38-year-old Jason Betts from Yate.


Jason Betts
Jason was taken to Southmead Hospital after being found unconscious at a flat in Celestine Road on Thursday afternoon (5/3), but he later died.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out by a Home Office pathologist and concluded he died from a head injury.

Det Ch Insp Andy Bevan said: “We’re treating Jason’s death as murder due to the injury he received and the suspicious nature of his death.

“His next of kin have been informed and specially trained officers are offering support to his family.

“We have arrested a 37-year-old man from London in connection with this inquiry and he will be questioned later today.

“I know this incident will cause concern in the local community but I’d like to reassure people that we have a team of dedicated officers working on the case, who are progressing numerous investigative actions.

“We’ve been carrying out house-to-house enquiries and are conducting a full forensic examination of the scene. There is likely to be increased policing activity in the area over the next few days.

“I’m asking people to think about whether they saw or heard anything suspicious in the Celestine Road area on Thursday 5 March, or the days leading up to Thursday.

“If you think you can help my team, please call us as soon as possible.”

If you have information please call the Major Crime Investigation Team via 101 or you can ring the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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We’ve charged two men in connection with the murder of 38-year-old Jason Betts in Yate.

Nixon Apire, 30, from Great North Road, Barnet, London and Nathan Skeen, 28, of no fixed address, have both been charged with murder.

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Jason Betts, 38, was found unconscious with a head injury at his flat in Celestine Road, Yate, on 5 March last year and died later in hospital.

Nathan Skeen, of Ermine Road, Lewisham, was found guilty of manslaughter and actual bodily harm following a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

At an earlier hearing, Nixon Apire, 31, of Great North Road, Barnet, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.

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Avon and Somerset Police said the two men had been responsible for assaulting Mr Betts for "well over a week before his death".

In that time, he was stabbed in the leg, had cigarettes stubbed out on his face and was hit over the head with a bottle and a glass.

But Det Supt Andy Bevan said it was in a subsequent assault carried out by Skeen that Mr Betts suffered the fatal injury.

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A drug dealer has been jailed for 20 years for killing an addict who owed him money.

Nathan Skeen of Ermine Road, Lewisham, south east London, was found guilty of manslaughter and actual bodily harm.

His accomplice Nixon Apire, 31, of Great North Road, Barnet, north London, was jailed for 15 years for wounding with intent.

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In a letter read to the court by DC Pete Fowler, Mrs March said: “I had no idea Jason was involved in drugs again or in the trouble he was,” she said. “I feel quite stupid now not to see it.

“I had given him almost all my savings and now have hardly anything left. Part of me is angry at him for causing so much hurt and I actually felt quite ashamed at some of the things I heard in court during the trial.

“But for all the hurt Jason has caused me he was my son and I still love him. This whole thing feels like a nightmare that I should not be part of but which will not end.”

Mrs March sobbed in court as a letter of apology, written by her son’s killer, was read out by defence barrister Andrew Horsell.

“If only I had never come to Bristol that day, maybe Jason would still be here,” it said.

“I am deeply sorry for the pain caused to your family and I hope one day I can be forgiven.”

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Judge Neil Ford said: “You treated the frail and obviously unwell Jason Betts with total indifference. Who knows what would have happened if the emergency services had been called earlier.

“You put temptation in the way by leaving crack cocaine and heroin, it was calculated and cruel.

“You deprived Jason Betts of his life and the greatest loss to his mother, young nephew and his circle of friends.”

Neither men were said to have shown remorse during court proceedings.

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