A FRIEND of murdered former York businessman Peter Battle has expressed shock at his brutal death.

Mr Battle was found last week on the lounge floor at his bungalow in Full Sutton, near Stamford Bridge, suffering from severe head injuries.

He may have been dead for some weeks before his discovery by police, who had broken in. Detectives have said they believe his death may be linked to his occupation as an antiques dealer.

Lez Briddon, of Bell Farm, York, who said he used to work with Mr Battle in running a York computer repair business, Ace 4 Computers, said he did not know why anyone would commit such a crime.

“He was not a man who ever had any enemies,” Mr Briddon said.

“He got on well with everybody and was always a happy man.

“I know the police have said what’s happened might be related to antiques, but I don’t know why anyone would do this. I couldn’t believe it when I heard what had happened to him. It was a total shock.”

He also revealed how Mr Battle’s entrepreneurial streak earned him the nickname Del Boy.

He said that like the favourite TV sitcom character, Mr Battle had been involved in a series of different business ventures over the years which had never quite succeeded as he had hoped.

He said they had drifted apart after the computer business came to an end but he used to see Mr Battle at car boot sales, where he would buy things such as pocket watches and other collectable items to sell. He said he last saw him just before Christmas.

“I noticed I hadn’t seen him there for weeks and I wondered where he had got to. He was very socially orientated and was always getting involved in events.”