Watson murder linked to dodgy memory deals

Police investigating the murder of Trafalgar Computers boss Richard Watson, who was shot dead outside his home last week, are considering the possibility that it could be linked with chip theft.

Watson was known to the police, as earlier this year East Grinstead-based Trafalgar Computers, which sells second-hand mainframes, was burgled by chip thieves. Ten days before his death he was mugged by assailants wielding an electric cattle prod.

A source at another Sussex computer firm said Watson was rumoured to be selling stolen memory. 'He was apparently moving it by the truckload and was very much the dodgy memory man,' he said.

A Sussex police representative said inquiries were centring on family and business connections. 'We are not ruling anything out, but chip and memory theft is something we are looking at,' he said.

'Watson was the victim of a burglary earlier this year for which a man was charged and is on bail. There is no reason to connect the two.'

Watson was the main shareholder of Trafalgar Computers, which did not trade last year, and Trafalgar Computer Maintenance, which made a loss.

The police are also investigating his business interests in Eastern Europe.

A representative for Trafalgar Computers said the firm had no comment to make on Watson's death.