Norwich murder: Everything we know about the stabbing so far

The incident on Friday

Police were seen swarming Paragon Place, near West Pottergate, at about 6.45pm to reports a man had been stabbed.

Paramedics from the East of England Ambulance service as well as from the Air Ambulance attended the suburban alley. 

Locals said that the man was wounded “brutally” and “gruesomely” in the chest and that police were seen giving CPR to the victim who was lying still on the floor.

Forensics on Friday night (Image: Bruno Brown)

They added that the efforts to save the man's life "were all but too late" with victim in his 30s pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary post-mortem found the death to be consistent with a single stab wound to the chest.

The search goes on 

After fleeing the scene near Grapes Hill the hunt began immediately, with officers reportedly using a drone and police dogs to search the area.

Bins and bushes were being thoroughly searched in an effort to find the weapon.

Patrols in the area were also increased over the weekend.

Detective superintendent Mike Brown from the Norfolk Major Investigation Team said: "We are working through several lines of enquiry in order to trace the suspect, and while these enquiries are active, we will not be releasing the suspect’s description.

“This will of course be reviewed as the investigation progresses and should we need to a description will be released.”

The aftermath in the following days

On Saturday and Sunday, a heavy police presence remained in the area with much of the scene cordoned off.

A forensics team worked throughout the weekend as they attempted to piece together the events which led to his death.

They continued to review CCTV footage, completing house-to-house enquiries and pursuing relevant forensic opportunities.

The scene on Saturday morning (Image: Bruno Brown)

Mr Brown added on Sunday evening: "The cordon in the area has now been lifted.

“We are listening to the local community and appreciate how distressing the past few days will have been for them.

"I want to reassure them that this was an isolated incident.

“We believe that those involved were known to each other with links through illegal drug use and we do not believe there is any wider risk to the general public.”

Victim named

On Tuesday afternoon police provisionally named the victim as 38-year-old Oliver Payne.

A formal identification is due to take place on Thursday, August 8.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses who may have seen or heard any suspicious activity in the Paragon Place area to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Norfolk Police by calling 101 or completing an online form and quoting reference 433 of August 2, 2024.