IT was only a question of time, so they waited.

Finally their patience was rewarded late in the afternoon when a wanted man returned to a terraced house in Southampton.

Detectives had been tipped off that a murder suspect had been seen in the city and following inquiries led by Det Con Kenneth Holmes, a police search of the Northumberland Road area was carried out, with particular interest centred on one house.

The man they were seeking was a 30-year-old Maltese man, Carmelo Zerafa, who was wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Londoner Michael John Polin.

When Zerafa returned to the address, he was immediately challenged by two officers and offered no resistance.

He was taken to Southampton Central police station to await the arrival of officers from the Metropolitan Police.

They escorted him to the Arbour Square police station in Stepney where he was charged with murder.

The following day, August 18, 1964, Zerafa appeared before local magistrates and was formally remanded in custody.

The Maltese, who could speak little English, had proceedings translated to him through an interpreter as the court heard that a vital witness was still in hospital and would be detained there for several weeks.

Zerafa had apparently been staying at the house in Northumberland Road – an area containing many guest houses – for about 36 hours.