TWO men, aged 20 and 22, have this morning been released without charge by police investigating the murder of Christopher Folkes.

But a 16-year-old boy remains in police custody in connection with the inquiry.

Meanwhile, Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter made an appeal for witnesses to come forward.

He also revealed what officers had so far pieced together about the attack.

Mr Hunter said Mr Folkes had been walking through Queen’s Park when he passed a group of six Asian men and four white men, aged in their teens to mid 20s.

He said they had been drinking near the basketball court.

Mr Hunter said there was a verbal altercation between the group and Mr Folkes who was then chased and attacked.

He said: “This was a vicious and sustained attack on a man who was walking in the park.

“He was completely unrelated to the group who we are looking to trace as a matter of urgency.

“There is no suggestion that Mr Folkes knew his attackers and there is so far no suggestion that this was a racist attack.

“The motive for this attack is still unclear and we are keen to speak to anybody who knew Mr Folkes or was in the park at the time or anyone or who is a regular user of the park to get in touch.

“We have spoken to three witnesses: two dogwalkers and a jogger who were sickened by the attack.

“They said that Mr Folkes was trying to get away from the group.”

Mr Hunter issued descriptions of the three attackers.

These are an Asian man, aged around 18, 5ft 7in, slim and wearing a black long-sleeved top, tracksuit trousers and white trainers.

A 20-year-old Asian man, 5ft 10in, stocky, clean shaven with short hair and wearing a tight white T-shirt.

The third is an Asian man in his mid-20s and wearing a deep orange or red T-shirt with black tracksuit bottoms.