Police seek author of mystery poem in murder investigation

Police investigating the fatal stabbing of a man in Bath on New Year's Day are searching for the author of a mystery poem which claims to name the killer.

Father-of-two Paul Kelly, 32, was killed outside the Longacre pub in Bath, Somerset in the early hours of New Year's Day.

A post-mortem revealed that he died from multiple stab wounds.

The poem - entitled 'Running From Paul Kelly - has been placed on lamp posts and bus shelters in the Snow Hill area of the city, where the murder took place, in the past week.

Aside from naming the alleged killer, the poem also claims that several people witnessed the killing but are too scared to come forward as witnesses.

The poem also implied that the murderer threw the murder weapon into the River Avon. Police have since recovered a knife from the river and forensic officers are examining it.

Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the murder so far, but no one has yet been charged.

Superintendent Nigel Rock, who is leading the investigation, said: "The poem appears to reinforce our belief that a significant number of people almost certainly know the identity of Paul Kelly's killer.

"But for reasons best known to themselves, these people are still reluctant to come forward and give us the information we need to bring that killer to justice."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact: 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.

(KMcA/SP)