Detectives are searching for several “persons of interest” in connection with two murders in Colchester.

These are people who may become suspects, key witnesses or people eliminated from the investigation.

The more than 100 detectives investigating the murders of Jim Attfield and Nahid Al-Manea, as “separate but parallel” investigations, have been given hundreds of names to go through.

Det Chief Supt Steve Worron said: “These names have been split into tiers of interest based on different elimination criteria.

“I cannot say what these criteria are but there are tens of people in the top tier.

“We need to speak to these people.

“We have hundreds of names but there are certain ones our searches are focused on."

Jim Attfield, 33, of East Bay, Colchester, was last seen drinking alone in River Lodge where he left a half drunk pint of lager shortly after 10pm.

Shortly before 6am, on Saturday, March 29, he was found stabbed 102 times on a path near Castle Park.

He was attacked near a bench on the riverside path which leads from Lower Castle Park to East Street.

He was close to a lake on one side and an exit from the path at Guildford Road on the other.

On Tuesday, June 17, Nahid Al-Manea, 31, of Woodrow Way, left home on her way to a lecture at Essex University at about 10am.

Shortly before 10.40am she was found dead, stabbed 16 times on a path on the Salary Brook Trail/ Help the police by calling the incident room on 01245 282103.

Alternatively Crimestoppers is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the killer or killers being caught and convicted.

Any information given is anonymous.

Call 0800 555111 if you can help.

See the full story and more on the murders in Thursday's Gazette.