Kevin Lavelle murder: Information left on detective's mobile phone

Kevin Lavelle was working in Banbury as a crane driver to save money for his wedding

A detective trying to solve the murder of a man in a pub fight eight years ago is appealing for a man who left a message on his mobile to call back.

Kevin Lavelle, 29, of Bootle, Merseyside, was attacked with an iron dumbbell outside the Cricketer's Pub in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in June 2004.

He got into an argument with several Welshmen who were also staying at the pub and he suffered 50 injuries.

Det Inp Steve Duffy said the phone call came from the Rhondda area of Wales.

The caller left a brief message but did not leave contact details.

'Agonising ordeal'

He added: "I received a phone call on Saturday morning from a man with a heavy Welsh accent who said he had information about the murder of Kevin Lavelle.

"It has been eight years since Kevin Lavelle was murdered and his family desperately want and deserve justice.

"They have been through an agonising ordeal and I firmly believe there are people in both South Wales and Banbury who have information which is vital to our inquiry.

"The guilt will never go away and Mr Lavelle's family will never find peace until the person or people responsible for his death are brought to justice."

An inquest ruled in 2009 that the father of two was unlawfully killed.

Ceri Noble, of Rhondda, south Wales, was charged with Mr Lavelle's murder but the court case collapsed in 2006 when it could not be proved who dealt the fatal blow.

Police say people from the Pontypridd area of Wales who were in the pub at the time of the incident could hold the key to understanding what happened.

Mr Lavelle, a crane driver, was working in Banbury to save money for his wedding.

There is a reward of £25,000 on offer for information leading to a conviction of his killer or killers.

A team of detectives from Thames Valley Police visited South Wales on 21 December as part of a renewed appeal for information.