04/11/2008

No Motive For Larne Murder: PSNI

There is as yet no clear motive for the violent death of a Larne man at the weekend.

As police yesterday began a full-scale murder inquiry into the brutal stabbing of the father-of-two, it emerged that the investigating officers did not have a motive for the killing.

"We are following a number of lines of inquiry, but we have no definite motive at this time," commented the officer in charge of the inquiry, Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Roberts, who also said police needed the public's help.

The senior officer was commenting after the body of Kenneth Nicholl, 29, was found in an alleyway between Herbert Avenue and Waterloo Road in the port town at around 8am on Sunday morning.

It is thought he died from a number of stab wounds but the official cause of death has not yet been established.

"We have started a murder inquiry as the victim suffered several stab wounds, but the cause of death is not confirmed at this stage.

"The victim is a 29-year-old male who lived with his partner and young son.

"He was in full-time employment and appears to have been a family man," DCI Roberts said, noting there were a number of areas where the public could help.

"We wish to appeal for information on three fronts.

"Anyone who has any information about his death or can help police with investigation, anyone who saw the victim between 10pm on Saturday or anyone who was in the Herbert Avenue area in Larne between 10pm on Saturday night and 8am on Sunday morning is asked to contact detectives in Larne."

DCI Roberts said the investigation needed to establish the dead man's movements between the time he was last seen and the discovery of his body by a local man at 8am on Sunday.

He had not been seen since 10pm the night before.

"He has suffered a violent death and that's why we need the assistance of the community in Larne and would be asking anyone with any information to contact police."

(BMcC)

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