Stab death suspect's web message

Mr Pyke had lived in Nottingham for two years

A German man arrested on suspicion of the murder of an internet gaming fan in Nottingham apologised on a website for the recent "trouble" he had caused.

Matthew Pyke, 20, was found stabbed in his flat above the Orange Tree pub on North Sherwood Street on 19 September.

David Heiss, 21, from Limburg, was arrested on Wednesday in Hunfelden in the German state of Hesse.

Extradition proceedings which were due to begin on Friday have been delayed until next week.

In a website message on Mr Pyke's girlfriend's social networking page, Mr Heiss said he would pray for her.

The entry on Joanna Witton's Facebook page said: "I will pray for you Jo. You must be suffering unbelievable pains.

"I'm sorry for having caused so much trouble lately. I hope you won't lose all your hope. We will be there for you."

Ongoing investigation

Mr Pyke, originally from Stowmarket in Suffolk, ran a web forum for the Nintendo game Advance Wars on which gamers could chat online with each other about tactics, characters and plots.

In a statement, Nottinghamshire Police said: "The man was arrested by officers from the West-Hessen police headquarters in Hunfelden on suspicion that on 19 September he killed a man in Nottingham with a knife.

"They got to know each other through the internet.

"The man has been extensively interviewed by Limburg CID at the petition of the public prosecutor."

A police spokeswoman added: "We are questioning him with German Police.

"A senior detective from the force has been in Germany since earlier in the week."

Officers said the joint investigation between Nottinghamshire Police and the German force was still ongoing.

Mr Pyke was about to start a degree at Nottingham Trent University and had lived in the city for two years.