24 Oct 2011

Beaten, burned man’s body found at roadside

Police are investigating the death of a 28-year-old man who was beaten and burned, before his body was left by the road in Ayrshire.

Stuart Walker from Ayrshire, Scotland was found dead with “horrible injuries” on the roadside of an industrial estate in Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Mr Walker had been out with friends earlier in the evening and was last seen alive by a family friend around two hours before his body was found at the Caponacre Industrial Estate at around 5am on Saturday.

Police said that Mr Walker died of an “extremely violent crime” but could not yet release details of the cause of death.

Strathclyde Police are looking into all aspects of Mr Walker’s life for a potential motive, including his sexuality.

Homophobic motive is ‘speculation’

However Detective Inspector Hogg, from Strathclyde police of Ayr police station, said that no motive had yet been confirmed.

“I am aware of all the speculation in the media regarding Mr Walker and his death. At this time we have nothing to indicate that this is a homophobic crime.

I am aware of all the speculation in the media regarding Mr Walker and his death. At this time we have nothing to indicate that this is a homophobic crime. Detective Inspector John Hogg

“Until we know the exact circumstances surrounding this murder, we will not rule anything out and will keep an open mind on any possible motive for this terrible crime.”

Detective Inspector Hogg also dismissed reports that the vicim had been tied to a lamppost, saying that this was “not the case”.

“He was found lying on the roadside and although we are not going to go into specific details on the cause of death, it was an extremely violent crime and our focus at this time is finding those responsible and bringing them to justice,” he added.

Appeal for information

Police are now checking CCTV footage and making door to door enquiries in the area to find out where Mr Walker was between 2.30am and 4.50am, who he was with and what the motive was.

A number of house parties are thought to have taken place in the nearby Netherthird housing estate on the night that Mr Walker was killed.

“At this time we do not know if these parties are linked to our investigation or not, so again, any information on that is important,” said Detective Inspector Hogg.

A community in shock

The area’s MSP, the Scottish National Party’s Adam Ingram, told BBC Scotland that the murder had shaken the community.

“Stuart was a very nice young man, very popular and well-known within the Cumnock community, and their thoughts and hearts are going out to the family at the moment,” he said. “It’s shocking and horrifying, and it’s come completely out of the blue.”

Stuart was a very nice young man, very popular and well-known within the Cumnock community. Adam Ingram MSP

Tributes to Mr Walker, a former Royal Hotel manager, have poured in, and more than 4,500 people have joined a Facebook page called ‘RIP Stuart Walker’.

Karen Nicol wrote: “Life is so unfair. A genuine guy who always had a smile, a wave or a big cheery hello for everyone. Cumnock an emptier place without you for lots of people. God bless and RIP. Thoughts and prayers are with your family xx.”