Tributes to murdered student – first picture

TRIBUTES have been paid to a ''witty'' and ''intelligent'' gaming fan who was stabbed to death in his home.

Police today said there were no signs of forced entry into Matthew Pyke's flat above a city centre pub.

Officers found the body of Mr Pyke above The Orange Tree in North Sherwood Street just after 6pm on Friday.

He lived in the flat with his girlfriend Joanna Witton.

A murder investigation began after a post-mortem examination revealed the 20-year-old died of stab wounds.

Superintendent Simon Nickless, of Notts City Division, said: "There is no indication of forced entry to the flat.

"This has focused our forensic and CCTV evidence gathering."

Supt Nickless said that investigating officers were focusing on the period between the early hours of Friday and the discovery of Mr Pyke's body, and they were still searching for the knife believed to have been used to kill him.

"If someone has seen anyone with bloodstained clothing in the area around Matthew's flat on that day then we would like to hear from them. They could provide a key line of inquiry."

Police are also investigating the possibility his killer may have changed in to clean clothes before leaving the flat.

Mr Pyke had moved to Nottingham from his home in Stowmarket, Suffolk, two years ago.

He lived with his partner and had enrolled to begin a degree course at Nottingham Trent University next month.

He is believed to have started but not completed a physics degree at the same university in 2006.

It has emerged that Mr Pyke and his girlfriend were into gaming and are understood to have been co-administrators of a website dedicated to fans of the computer fantasy game Advance Wars, where Mr Pyke was known as Shade.

One poster, who called themselves The Evil One, wrote: "I can't believe it. Matt was once one of the closest friends I had on the forum.

"He was witty, intelligent, and furiously protected the site, the forum and its members. We all loved him for his hilarious comics, his fantastic writing, and most of all his absolutely amazing company.

"I wish I'd talked to him more in recent times. Now I never can. I'll miss you, old friend."

Asked about Mr Pyke's links with the gaming world, a police spokesman said: "We are looking into all aspects of Matthew's life and that includes computer-based inquiries."

More of Mr Pyke's friends have contacted the Post through Facebook.

Chiraag Suchak said he had been best friends with him for ten years after they were in the same class at Stowmarket Middle School. He used to play football and on the PlayStation with him every weekend.

"He was my best mate at school and we stayed close up until last year," said Mr Suchak, a computing and IT student at the University of Surrey.

Mr Suchak said the pair left Stowmarket, where Mr Pyke had lived all his life, when they both went to university in November 2006.

"He was quite shy at school and was really into journalism and used to do a lot of creative writing.

Mr Suchak said he last saw him at his home in Combsford in April and had never visited him in Nottingham.

He added: "I was just completely shocked by the news because I knew him really well.

''He was a close mate and you don't really expect it.

"He is someone that would never ever provoke anyone, so I have no idea why anyone would do this."

Anyone with information about Mr Pyke's death can call the incident room at West Bridgford police station on 0115 844 6912 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.