Murder hunt after Paul, 43, is found dead in his flat
Victim suffered ‘sustained attack’
A SAVAGE killer was being hunted by police yesterday after a man was murdered in a “sustained” assault in his home.
Paul Halley, 43, was found dead in his flat on Sunday and is thought to have suffered multiple injuries.
As police launched a murder hunt, the property in Carluke, Lanarkshire, was sealed off for forensic examination.
Officers are looking at CCTV and are carrying out door-to-door inquiries in the area around the flat in the town’s Hozier Street.
The killing has left Paul’s family distraught, including his elderly parents Bessie, 84, and Adam, 82.
Paul’s nephew Lee Connor, 30, said: “We don’t know anything yet. We just want to find out what happened
“He was a nice, down-to-earth person. I’ve not been to see my gran or grandad yet but I know they are totally devastated.”
A neighbour said Paul had lived in the flat for about eight years.
They added: “This is a huge shock. Paul was a nice guy. It is a real concern that something like this can happen here. My heart goes out to his family.”
Detective Chief Inspector Raymond Brown said they had an experienced team working on the case.
He added: “Our investigation and post-mortem findings have identified that Paul has been murdered. He has been the victim of a violent and sustained attack.”
Officers believe Paul, who lived alone, was last seen alive between 7pm and 8pm on Saturday. The door of the flat had been boarded up prior to the incident.
DCI Brown added: “To my knowledge, that is not connected. However, we are still establishing the facts that have led to this tragic event.”
He urged locals to come forward with any information that could help them track down Paul’s killer.
DCI Brown said: “Carluke is a close-knit community and local people will be concerned by what has happened.
“I would like to reassure them that we are determined to find the person responsible for this crime. However, I require the support of the community to assist us and provide information which could be relevant to our investigation.”