Boscombe murder victim named: witnesses sought

Police are appealing for any information relating to the murder of 20-year-old Boscombe man, Luke Desmond Campbell - known as ‘Luka’ to many of his friends.

Mr Campbell's body was found at the bottom of the back garden of a semi-detached house at the junction of St Clement's Road and Cleveland Road, Boscombe just after 10am on Saturday, 8 November 2008.  He had been stabbed.

A member of the public alerted the police after seeing the man’s body while walking across the Cleveland Road bridge that spans the main London to Bournemouth railway line.

The murder of Mr Campbell - which is believed to be an isolated incident - is being investigated by Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, led by Detective Chief Inspector Neil Redstone. 

Mr Campbell was cycling in the vicinity and his green BMX bike has gone missing.

Detective Chief Inspector Redstone said: "I am appealing to the public to come forward in confidence if they saw Luke riding his distinctive green coloured 'Apollo Awesome' BMX bicycle in the vicinity of Walpole Road, St Clement's Road and Cleveland Road in Boscombe, between 8pm and 9pm on Friday, 7 November 2008.

"I also need to hear from anyone who has seen the green BMX bicycle - or has information about its whereabouts - since that time. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence and I am interested in any information, no matter how unimportant or insignificant it may seem."

House-to-house enquiries by officers in the area surrounding where Mr Campbell's body was found are continuing and the police are examining closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the area.

Witnesses and anyone with information should contact Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 222 222 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.

The inquest into the death of Luke Desmond Campbell  of St John's Road is due to be opened and adjourned at the Stafford Road coroner's court in Bournemouth at 2pm this afternoon, (Monday, 10 November 2008).