IT has been eight-and-a-half months since James Attfield was murdered.

The 33-year-old father-of-five, who was living in East Bay, Colchester, was stabbed 102 times on a path. His body was found shortly before 6am on Saturday, March 29.

Det Chief Insp Simon Werrett said more forensic tests would be carried out and more CCTV examined as the investigation continues.

Items close to the murder scene have already been tested, but no significant forensic information has been found.

Tests are now being carried out on items found further away in the park and CCTV images from the park and around the town are still being examined.

Mr Werrett said: “Further forensic tests are still being carried out. We took a lot of stuff from the park.

“We are still looking for other witnesses – people who may have been in the park.”

Two appeals are particularly urgent. The first concerns a couple seen on a bench in Lower Castle Park.

Mr Werrett said: “They still have not come forward.”

They were spotted on the bench at about 11.30pm on March 28. The man is white, of stocky build and had a shaved or closely shaved head and was possibly wearing a white shirt.

The woman is white, with pale skin and was wearing a skirt and possibly a blouse. She had black hair, which was swept back into a ponytail.

The second appeal concerns messages Mr Attfield posted on his Facebook page that appear to suggest he was in contact withawoman who had been on holiday the week before.

The friend, who Mr Attfield does not name, likes dancing and pottery and may have sung karaoke with him.

Mr Werrett said: “Nobody has come forward. Another push might bring forward someone out there who knows who the friend is.”

He also provided an update on the night when Mr Attfield left River Lodge at 10.10pm on March 28.

Mr Werrett said: “We know the time he left the pub and the time he was found.

“Witnesses may have seen someone matching his description up until 1.30am. From that time onwards, we are still unsure what occurred.”

The investigation has been scaled back, but a core team is still assigned to it.

Mr Werrett said: “It is difficult to say how long this will continue, a couple of months with the core team at least.”

With no eyewitnesses, murder weapon, a motive or significant forensic information, the murder is a hard one to solve.

A 19-year-old remains on bail on suspicion of murder.

Several others were arrested on suspicion of murder, but have been released from their bail although they remain part of the investigation.

Mr Werrett is confident police will find the killer.

He said: “The best bet would be information from the public.

Someone out there knows what happened. They would have had blood on them.”

Detectives have also looked at the National Crime Agency database to find any links with crimes, or individuals.

Mr Werrett said: “There are a range of possible motives – it could have been a random attack.

“But there does not seem to be an obvious motive. There was no robbery.

“It could have been someone he was meeting. There are no links with him and any criminal activity.”

Mr Werrett also expressed his sympathy for the family.

He said: “It is a difficult time.

They are trying to get on with their lives, but they still want answers.”