Murder victim Stuart Walker Prime Minister David Cameron is appealing for the public to help solve the horrifying murder of a gay barman which has left a Scottish town in utter shock. The body of 28-year-old Stuart Walker was found in an industrial state early on Saturday morning local time in the town of Cumnock in East Ayrshire. He was reportedly tied to a post and beaten, then burnt to death. Local police say the details of the killing are too disturbing to describe in detail. They have played down claims he was killed for being gay, but say no clear motive has been established. They cannot rule out that a weapon was used in the attack, that a gang was responsible, or that Walker was tortured before he was killed. During question time in the Commons, David Cameron expressed his sorrow at Walker's death. "It was once said that the police are the public and the public are the police," he said. "The police cannot solve crimes without the help of the public and I hope everyone will co-operate in the best way they can." The MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Sandra Osborne had earlier said: "My constituency is in a state of shock following the very brutal murder of a very popular local man, Stuart Walker." She condemned "unhelpful speculation" about why he was killed and urged people to come forward with information. Flowers have been laid near the murder scene. One left by his gran read: "Miss + Love you always our dear grandson. Sleep tight, Gran and Papa." Another said: "There are so many words going through my mind at the moment. One is Why. Why our Stuart? The whole family has been ripped apart.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 27th October 2011 - 5:37pm