MARCH 29, 2014

  • Father-of-five James Attfield is murdered. He was stabbed 102 times.

APRIL 2014

  • CCTV and pictures of James Attfield released.
  • Three people are arrested in connection with the investigation.
  • A Dutch Quarter flat is searched in connection with the murder.
  • 23 CCTV images of potential witnesses or suspects released.

MAY 2014

  • Criminologist warns police now need a lucky break.
  • Appeal to find dog walkers in the area.
  • More arrests made.
  • More details of James Attfield’s journey on the Friday, released.
  • Weapons Awareness march held in Colchester. James’s mum Julie Finch attends.

JUNE 2014

  • Nahid Al-Manea found murdered. Investigations to be “separate but parallel”.
  • James’s funeral is held.
  • Crimestoppers offers a £10,000 reward for information.
  • Two men arrested after a knife robbery on the riverside path, near Leisure World, are also questioned in connection with James’s murder.

JULY 2014

  • Review of CCTV revealed some cameras in the area were not working and some were showing the wrong times.
  • Police reveal work being done in forensic lab to find the killer or killers.

AUGUST 2014

  • Homes raided and several people arrested in connection with murder.
  • Appeal is launched to find a mystery Facebook friend.

SEPTEMBER 2014

  • Appeal renewed to find a couple on a bench near to the scene.
  • Standing Together march between murder scenes.
  • Mum Julie Finch issues new appeal and warns Colchester is not safe with her son’s killer at large.
  • Fresh CCTV pictures revealed.
  • Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh warns killers they will be caught.
  • The number of people arrested increases to ten.

OCTOBER 2014

  • Suspects have their bail extended.
  • Police warn residents not to carry weapons after magistrates in Colchester refuse a defendant’s claim he was carrying a weapon due to fears over murders.

NOVEMBER 2014

  • Eight out of ten suspects are released from bail.

DECEMBER 2014

  • Senior detectives renew appeal for help to find mystery Facebook female and the couple on the bench.

JANURAY 2015

  • Colchester Council announce £45,000 investment to improve CCTV.
  • Final two suspects released from bail, but police say many are “still of interest”.

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