Wealthy businessman Adriano Bussandri was discovered with multiple head injuries.
The Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation after a man was found dead in a fire in Putney on Friday morning.
Wealthy businessman Adriano Bussandri was discovered with multiple head injuries, possibly inflicted by a sharp object.
Officers were called at around 05.10 to the scene on Holroyd Road after neighbours reported a house fire.
It took 20 fire-fighters three hours to fight the blaze which destroyed the top two-floors in the three storey property.
Detective Chief Inspector Russell Taylor is leading the investigation and appealed for anyone in the vicinity at the time to contact the police.
He said: “It is now apparent that Mr Bussandri was subjected to a violent assault prior to the fire.
“If you have any information please come forward and speak to my officers.”
A post-mortem revealed that Mr Bussandri, 51, had died due to smoke inhalation.
It is thought that the Italian-born former oil executive lived alone and was not working at the time of his death.
He resigned from his position as finance director for Harvest Energy Ltd in 2007 after the firm became embroiled in the contaminated supermarket fuel scandal.
He was married to Marina, 49, and has an 18-year-old daughter called Sabrina.
Picture courtesy of freefotouk, with thanks.
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