Video clue in murder hunt

Mr Hanson was caught on CCTV hours before he died

Detectives investigating the murder of a man kicked to death have released CCTV footage of the victim.

Robert Hanson, 43, was captured by cameras in an off-licence about 12 hours before he was assaulted on a footpath in Bramley, Leeds, in the early hours of 23 December 2001.

Police hope the black-and-white footage will help track down Mr Hanson's killers.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Johnston, said the images could help jog the memories of people who may have seen Mr Hanson in the hours leading up to his death.

It is vital to the investigation that that wallet is found

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Johnston

The video, released on Thursday, shows Mr Hanson taking out a black wallet from his front left jeans pocket to pay for some wine and tonic water at the store in the Pudsey area of Leeds.

His wallet was missing after the attack and has never been recovered.

Mr Johnston said: "The likelihood is that he was attacked not long after one am in the morning of 23 December, but we still don't have any witnesses who have actually seen Mr Hanson at any point of his journey.

"We believe that the motive was robbery. I am sure that he had in his possession a wallet at the time of the attack which has been taken from him.

"It is vital to the investigation that that wallet is found."

The wallet, similar to this, has not been found

Mr Hanson, a furniture salesman from Salford, Manchester, was found unconscious at 0600 GMT on 23 December on a well-lit footpath at the junction of Leeds Ring Road and Pudsey Road.

He died later in hospital of severe head injuries, including a fractured skull.

It is believed that Mr Hanson's head may have been stamped on several times during the attack.

He had been visiting relatives in Gamble Hill Croft, Bramley, and left their house at 0120 GMT.

West Yorkshire Police are still trying to trace three teenagers spotted in the area at the relevant time.

Earlier this month, Mr Hanson's employers offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his murder.

Friends and colleagues at Harvey's Furnishings in Oldham paid tribute to Mr Hanson as "the genuine Mr Nice Guy" and "an honest and generous man who wouldn't harm a fly".