MURDER squad detectives investigating the death of skydiver Stephen Hilder will ask experts at a conference today whether they think it is possible he committed suicide.

The 20-year-old Army cadet, from Stretton Sugwas, near Hereford, plummeted to his death at an airfield in north Lincolnshire in July last year after the cord on his parachute and reserve were severed.

Officers admit they are baffled as to the motive behind the killing and have invited experts from across the country to a one-day conference in Scunthorpe today to examine all the facts.

They are hoping some of the UK's most experienced detectives - both retired and serving officers - together with forensic experts, crime profilers and a criminal psychologist, will be able to suggest new lines of inquiry.

One of the theories they will be considering is whether the popular student committed suicide.

"This is just one of the angles they will be looking at," said a spokeswoman for Humberside police, which is leading the inquiry.

"Suicide will be discussed as one of the many items on the agenda."

All those attending the event have received briefing packs on the inquiry providing background information about the case.

During the conference they will sit through a number of representations summarising the case and the different aspects examined so far before being asked for their own views, opinions and theories.

"This case is unprecedented and because of that we have not been able to get any input into the inquiry from officers with previous knowledge or experience of any similar job," said Det Supt Colin Andrews, who is leading the investigation.

"However, there are a lot of very experienced senior investigating officers across the country who have worked on very complex murder investigations and I want to tap into their skills, knowledge and expertise to see if they can see anything that we have missed.

"I'm also keen to get views on how we can prioritise our work and get through the huge amount of information and intelligence that we have amassed over the course of the past seven months."