DETECTIVES have turned to Hampshire's gay community in a bid to find the killer of a man who died four months after a savage attack.

Nigel Price lost his fight for life last week, having remained in a coma-like state ever since the attack on Southampton Common last November.

He was discovered badly beaten and face down in bushes by a dog walker in the central area of the common, some five minutes walk from where police believe he was set upon.

Medics at Southampton General Hospital had warned that Mr Price, 58, was unlikely to recover from his injuries and he passed away last Tuesday evening after his condition rapidly deteriorated.

Now detectives have launched a murder hunt and are appealing directly to members of the gay community to help them find who delivered the fatal blows.

Throughout the weekend specially trained lesbian and gay liaison officers visited popular gay pubs and clubs in the city to try and encourage witnesses to come forward.

Mr Price was openly gay – something which was known by all of his family and friends. On the night he was attacked he was in an area of the Common known to be frequented by gay men.

Detective Chief Inspector Ben Snuggs, leading the investigation, said: “We are appealing to the gay community who we believe may hold the answers.

Nigel was gay and this was known by his friends, many of whom may have been on the Common on the night of November 13 and 14 who know or subsequently have heard what happened.

“I would urge people to come forward and would like to reassure them that we will treat them with the utmost sensitivity and discretion.

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"We would even be happy to talk with them through a third party.

“We are not concerned as to the reasons why witnesses may have been on Southampton Common on the night of this assault – my priority is to find who is responsible."

Members of the police’s local safer neighbourhoods team have also revisited the scene and handed out leaflets to refresh people's memory of the night of the assault.

Anyone with information or who would like to talk with detectives can call the Operation Levy investigation team at Hulse Road on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.