Billy McNicholl: Man found dead in Ipswich on New Year's Day was stabbed

A post-mortem examination has revealed that a man who was found dead inside a property on New Year's Day died from head injuries and a single stab wound.

William McNicholl, 63, also known as Billy was found inside an address in Hawthorn Drive in Ipswich, Suffolk on 1 January.

Preliminary results from a post-mortem examination suggested he had died as a result of multiple injuries, but the full results released by police on Tuesday confirmed the precise cause of Mr McNicholl's death.

Police are continuing to appeal for anyone with information or who saw suspicious activity between Tuesday 24 December and Wednesday 1 January to come forward.

Officers from Suffolk Police's major investigation team remain in place at the premises on Hawthorn Drive, near the junction with Marigold Avenue, while inquiries continue.

Police said they continued to have an increased presence in the area to try and reassure local people, but some residents that ITV News Anglia spoke to on Monday said they were still too afraid to leave their homes.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said Mr McNicholl had lived in the area for around five years and that he had always been "pleasant" when she had met him.

Flowers have been left outside the property since the discovery of Mr McNicholl's body on Wednesday.

Det Supt Mike Brown said: “Billy’s family are being supported by specially trained officers through what is an extremely distressing time for them.

“A large number of officers and staff have already been involved in the investigation, with searches, house-to-house and CCTV inquiries taking place.

“We are exploring all and any lines of inquiry and currently believe this to be an isolated incident and I would urge anyone with any information, no matter how small you think it may be, to get in touch with police.”

Mr McNicholl's family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money towards his funeral costs to "offer him the dignity in his send-off that he did not get in his passing".

The appeal has so far raised £530 of its £4,500 target.

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