Man arrested over murder of CPS lawyer

Tributes paid to Martin Decker who spent his life ‘working hard on behalf of other people’

Former CPS senior lawyer Martin Decker was found dead at his home in Birkenhead, Wirral, on 7 March, 2021. (PA)

A 23-year-old man has been detained on suspicion of murdering a retired prosecutor.

Martin Decker, 69, was found dead on Sunday afternoon at his home in Birkenhead, Wirral.

Merseyside Police arrested the suspect, of no fixed address, on Thursday and are questioning him about the murder.

Mr Decker, who lived alone, died from a severe head injury, the force said.

He worked as senior lawyer specialising in sexual offence cases for the Crown Prosecution Service’s Mersey Cheshire department from 1986 until his retirement in 2012.

Jo Wood, who worked with Mr Decker, told theWirral Globe that he was “one of the good guys”. 

“He really understood what women go through when they report rape and he worked hard to make that easier for them to do,” she said.

Mr Decker’s family also paid tribute to him in a statement earlier this week, saying he spent his life “working hard on behalf of other people and for their benefit”.

“He managed a team of lawyers at the CPS, all of whom loved and admired him, they would go the extra mile for him to meet his high standards,” the statement said.

“He is loved by all and his passing will leave a massive hole in our lives which can never be filled,” it added.

Tranmere Rovers Football Club, the team Mr Decker supported, said it was “shocked and saddened” to hear of his sudden death. 

Detectives are still appealing for members of the public to come forward with any information about the case.

Additional reporting by PA