Bournemouth murder

BMX bicycle found after media appeal

Detectives investigating the murder of 20-year old Bournemouth university student, Luke Desmond Campbell, have this afternoon, Tuesday, 11 November 2008, found what is believed to be his green 'Apollo Awesome' BMX bicycle.

The discovered followed a Dorset Police appeal to the media - newspapers, radio and television.

Police located the bicycle just before 3pm this afternoon, Tuesday, off Churchill Road, in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth - a short distance from where Luke's body was found on the morning of Saturday, 8 November 2008.

The bicycle - which is being forensically examined by scenes of crime officers - was recovered after police officers received a call this afternoon from a lady who lives in Boscombe.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Redstone, who is leading the hunt for Luke's killer, said: "I am very grateful to the media for their help in publicising our search for the bicycle and I feel sure that the bicycle was found thanks to that media coverage."

Detectives with Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team are still interested in hearing from anyone who saw Luke cycling in the vicinity of Walpole Road, St Clement's Road and Cleveland Road in Boscombe between 8pm and 9pm on Friday, 7 November 2008.

Murder squad detectives are also still keen to hear from anyone who saw or heard any suspicious, unusual or out of the ordinary activity in that area on that Friday evening.

Detectives are still pursuing several lines of specific enquiry and they are keeping an open mind as to the motive for Luke's murder which is believed to have been an isolated incident

Luke'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 just after 10am on Saturday, 8 November 2008.

The house has been converted into several flats and the communal garden backs on to the main London to Bournemouth railway line.

Detailed forensic search work where Luke's body was found has been completed and the scene released by police. Officers have also completed search work involving road drains in the area and the nearby St Clement's Church.

British Transport Police officers have completed a search of the main London to Bournemouth railway line next to the rear garden where Luke's body was found.

Detectives are continuing to examine closed circuit television (CCTV) footage from the Boscombe area of Bournemouth.

Born in August, 1988, Luke lived in the Belper area of Derbyshire before moving to Bournemouth during the summer of 2008 ahead of starting his four-year information technology and business studies degree course at the town's university.

A detailed forensic post-mortem to establish the cause of Luke's death was carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue at the Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester on Saturday, 8 November 2008.

The cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.

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.