ESSEX’S top police officer said detectives investigating the brutal murder of Jim Attfield will not be pressurised into charging suspects.

In an exclusive interview with the Gazette, Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh admitted the murder was among the worst he had seen in 29 years as an officer.

But he believes the murderer will be found – and is committed to using as many of the county’s police resources as necessary to ensure justice is done.

Mr Attfield, 33, of East Bay, Colchester, was stabbed 102 times. He was found near Colchester’s Castle Park on March 29.

Gazette: Police urge two people seen on CCTV to help over the murder of James Attfield, found dead with more than 100 stab wounds in Colchester (Essex Police/PA)

                                                 Jim Attfield

Mr Kavanagh said: “The violence used, and the fact no-one has been charged, rightly mean we have to put all our efforts to finding out who is responsible.

“I was a homicide senior investigating officer for three years and for more than 50 murders and what the family need, and what the people of Colchester need, and my officers need, is calm leadership.

"They need to work through their lines of inquiry and don’t start to get silly pressures that cause them to leap to assumptions to try to just get a charge.”

Police are desperate to speak to more than ten potential witnesses after the stabbing.

Although BBC TV’s Crimewatch appeal prompted many people pictured by CCTV to come forward, officers still want to hear from eight men, plus a woman and a man and a woman. The latter were on a park bench, possibly opposite Mr Attfield, who was sitting on the grass.

Anyone with information should contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Read the full report in today's Gazette.