Detectives investigating the murder of the BBC television presenter, Ms Jill Dando, were granted permission to question a 40-year-old man for a further 36 hours last night in connection with the killing.
Police have refused to reveal the identity of the man, who was arrested on suspicion of her murder on Thursday at his London home which is less than half a mile from Ms Dando's Fulham address, where she was shot in the head on her doorstep 13 months ago.
But the suspect's neighbours have named him as Mr Barry Bulsara, who is known locally as Thomas, and is believed to be an unemployed musician with an interest in the former Queen singer, Freddie Mercury. The singer was born Farok Bulsara and it is understood Mr Bulsara changed his name by deed poll.
A magistrate granted the police a warrant of further extension to question the suspect at about 3.45 p.m. less than three hours before the investigating team would have been obliged under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act to seek legal permission to detain Mr Bulsara.
The extension runs out at 6.30 a.m. tomorrow but further extensions can be sought up to 96 hours, after which the police must charge Mr Bulsara, release him on bail or release him without charge.
Throughout the day there was a great deal of activity surrounding the case. In the afternoon, Mr Bulsara was moved from Hammersmith police station to a police station in north London to take part in an identity parade.
Detectives also conducted a detailed search of his Fulham flat and dozens of crates of his belongings have already been taken away for forensic examination. Police also confirmed that Mr Bulsara had been under surveillance for more than a month and that the information leading to his arrest was provided several weeks ago but could not be used immediately.
Reports that Mr Bulsara claimed he was the cousin of Freddie Mercury upset the singer's family who denied any connection with the suspect. A spokesman for Freddie Mercury's family said: "We have in the past been made aware by some fans of a person claiming to the cousin of Freddie, but can emphatically state this person, Barry Bulsara, is no relative of the late Freddie Mercury, who was, of course, born Farok Bulsara."
Neighbours painted a picture of Mr Bulsara as a quiet loner who walked the street at night and had a habit of making up stories. Mr Graham Thompson, who lives in the flat below Mr Bulsara, said he had known him for 20 years. "One day he told me he was in the SAS, another day something else, he is a very strange man."