Family grief-stricken after the murder of ‘happy and kind’ son

11:33am Thursday 21st August 2008

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A HAMPSHIRE dad has told of his grief following the murder of his happy and kind' son in a vicious street attack.

Simon Bampton never regained consciousness after being punched by a driver as he crossed a road forcing him to fall and hit his head on the ground.

It is the second tragedy in a year for Stan Bampton, who kept a vigil at Simon's hospital bedside until he passed away, after his wife died from a long illness last year.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, detectives have launched a murder inquiry following the 28- year-old glazier's death on a city centre street in Bristol.

Simon, who lived with his girlfriend Natasha Matthews at their flat in Tunstall Road, Thornhill, had been working away in the city when the tragedy happened.

Police are mystified as to what triggered the situation that led to the violent attack in the early hours of Tuesday morning and are appealing for witnesses to come forward with any information to helpwith the investigation.

Speaking at his Southampton home, Mr Bampton described his son as a popular man who would do anything for anyone'.

"It's still just a shock. He was just a normal person. He had a lot of friends and has never been in any trouble," he said.

"He's just a normal bloke. He had a lot of friends around him, both men and women.

"He loved his car - an Audi Quattro - and he would be out there every Saturday cleaning it.

"He was the sort of person who would do anything for anyone,"

he added.

"When his mum died of emphysema last year, he saw how bad her lungs were and he said if anything ever happened to him then he wanted his organs donated. He felt very strongly about it."

Stan was joined by his daughter Amanda and her boyfriend Tom Stone at Simon's bedside before he died at Bristol Royal Infirmary at around midday on Tuesday.

Tom, who also worked with Simon for Greenberg Glass Ltd, paid tribute to his friend.

"He was a good and loyal mate and he worked hard. It's still quite a shock, you don't expect this to happen and he will be missed," he said.

Simon's girlfriend Natasha, 25, said: "Simon was the love of my life - he was perfect in every way.

I had the happiest six years of my life with him. I can't express how much hurt and pain I'm feeling.

"He was the most gentle, happy, kind man and loved by so many."

A post-mortem is due to be carried out at Bristol Royal Infirmary today into the cause of death.

Detective Superintendent Andy Williams, of Bristol CID, appealed for the person responsible to come forward.

"This may have been a spur of the moment action and it is very possible that they did not realise the seriousness of the assault at the time. Therefore I am appealing to their conscience today to contact us immediately.

"We are following a number of lines of enquiry, particularly CCTV footage, and it would be better for all concerned for the person responsible to speak to us sooner rather than later.

"I am also appealing to anyone who might know who committed this offence. Did someone you know come home and say they had been in a fight or looked like they had?"

Police are advising that anyone with any information contact them on 0845 456 700 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.