Murder probe launched in Liverpool
A murder investigation has been launched after a man died following an assault.
A murder investigation has been launched after a man died following an assault.
Paul Groom, 48, died in hospital on Saturday night after suffering head injuries in an assault in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Paramedics were called to his home, in Fazakerley, Liverpool, on Saturday morning but he died in hospital at 10pm that day.
Detectives believe Mr Groom had been at a home in Stanton Crescent, Kirkby, Merseyside, in the early hours of Thursday when he was assaulted.
A post-mortem examination has established the preliminary cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.
Police said his family, from Wrexham in North Wales, had been left devastated by his death.
Detective Inspector Craig Turner, from Knowsley CID, said:
"We are determined to find out what happened.
"We believe he was involved in an altercation either inside or outside a house in Stanton Crescent, Kirkby, in the early hours of Thursday.
"He suffered injuries consistent with an assault but managed to get home to Fazakerley where his condition deteriorated to the point where a friend called an ambulance on Saturday morning.
"We need to establish Paul's movements from Wednesday night through to Saturday morning and trace everyone he was with.
"I'd encourage people to look at his picture and cast their minds back to see if they remember seeing him.
Paul was wearing a camouflage jacket and camouflage trousers and often walked his pet dog, a brown whippet, in the local area.
"Any information that helps us build up a picture of Paul's movements prior to his death on Saturday could be crucial to us understanding what happened and bringing the person or people responsible to justice.''
Anyone with information should call Knowsley CID on 0151 777 6064 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.