DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a father-of-two are continuing an appeal for information to help build up a picture of the events leading up to his death.

David Scott, 33, from South Stanley, County Durham, died in Newcastle’s RVI early on Sunday morning after being found with stab wounds in the back lane of Rose Avenue in South Moor.

Four people, three men and a woman, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and released on bail pending further enquiries.

Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry said: “We are following a number of specific lines of enquiry, but we still need to establish a motive for the killing and we have yet to recover a possible murder weapon.

“We’ve spoken to a number of key witnesses who have provided significant information, but we still need to speak to anyone who can help us establish the events leading up to David’s death.

“There may be people who may have seen him and his associates out and about in the South Moor area on the afternoon of Saturday, December 22, and into the evening. We want to establish where he was and who he was with in the last hours of his life.

“We specifically need to trace two men who seen running in the back lane of Rose Avenue between midnight on Saturday, December 22 and 2am on Sunday the 23rd.”

The scene in Rose Avenue remains cordoned off as police work to establish every potential forensic opportunity.

House-to-house enquiries are continuing and CCTV footage from the area is being examined.

Det Supt Paul Goundry added: “Anyone with information can speak to their local neighbourhood officers who will be out and about in the area.

“This has been a shocking incident for the local community, so our neighbourhood officers will be working to reassure local people that everything possible is being done to find David’s killer.

“If they have any concerns they should contact us and ask to speak to their neighbourhood team.”

The police non-emergency number is 101 or people can ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.