Father 'may have known murderer'

Stuart Slade was found with stab wounds to his chest in Brighton

A man who was found stabbed to death in Brighton may have been murdered after a dispute with someone he knew got out of hand, police have said.

Officers investigating the attack on Stuart Slade, 35, said the motive was still under consideration but they had a number of lines of inquiry.

Mr Slade, an unemployed father of one, died after being found injured in the street early on 30 December.

Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses a week on from the murder.

More witnesses

"We have a number of lines of inquiry arising out of calls from members of the public and from those who knew Stuart," said Det Ch Insp Steve Johns.

"The potential motive for the attack... could well have been a dispute with someone he knew that got out of hand and ended with Stuart losing his life.

"I still believe that there are people who witnessed what happened who have not yet come forward."

Mr Slade, who lived in Old Steine, Brighton, died in the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he was taken after being found by members of the public in Hampton Place.

His mother Maureen and father, also called Stuart, both from south-west London, said he was a "loving and caring son and father".

They added it was only his seven year-old-son who was keeping them going.

Mr Johns said if anyone was concerned about passing information to the police they could contact Crimestoppers anonymously.