DAD-OF-FIVE James Attfield was hit by a car while leaving a pub in April 2010.

At that moment his life changed.

The crash, in Grays, left him with brain damage and he moved to Coggeshall to live with his family.

Help from the brain injury charity, Headway, followed and he found his own home and lived in supported accommodation in East Bay, Colchester.

Gazette:

 

We do know he was slowly getting better. Jo Wright, chief executive of Headway Essex, said: “He was a lovely, quiet, polite and gentle person, who had made many friends through Headway.

“Jim had made great progress in overcoming the challenges he faced as a result of his brain injury and was determined to become independent again.

“It was our privilege to have supported him. Jim was passionate about the support Headway provides.

“He helped to raise awareness and understanding of living with the effects of a brain injury.”

Jim drank in River Lodge, the Goat and Boot and various other pubs in Colchester, preferring ones either side of the path he was eventually found on, rather than on Colchester’s hills.

This may have been because he still struggled to walk since his injury.

This may also explain why he did not attend his sister’s 18th birthday on Friday, March 28, despite him being at the bottom of North Hill and his family at the top.

We also know he loved music, the town of Colchester and MK Dons Football Club. He sang karaoke and used social media to talk about it.

On Friday, March 28, James went to the post office in Head Street between 9am and 10am. He withdrew £350, an unusuallyhigh amount for him, before going shopping in Sainsbury’s. He still had £140 on him when he was killed.

He visited a newsagent before returning home.

He was next seen shortly before 5pm entering Tenpin bowling alley.

He had become a keen bowler since getting help from Headway and went in for a pint. He left at about 5.30pm and was next seen in the River Lodge, in Middleborough.

At about 10pm he ordered a beer, but left about two thirds and walked out about ten minutes later.

The next confirmed sighting was by those who found his body at about 5.30am on a path between Castle Park, Guildford Road and East Hill.

It is not clear where he was during this seven-hour gap. Detectives believe a man matching his description was seen at about 11.30pm.

The man was sitting near a park bench. A couple were also seen either side of the bench smoking, close to where the man, which may have been James, sat.

Acall wasmade to the SOS bus about midnight to reports of aman in distress near Castle Park. Volunteers went to take a look, but could not find anyone.

It is not known whether it was James. No confirmed murder weapon has been found and no confirmed forensic match has been made.

No eye witnesses have come forward with enough information to charge someone with murder.

Ten people have been arrested, but all have been released without charge.