The grief-stricken sister of North Yorkshire murder victim David Williamson today made a heartfelt plea in a bid to help police catch his killer.

Only when his killer is brought to justice, said his sister Barbara Sherwood, can his heartbroken family begin the healing process and "a once-peaceful village" return to normal.

Mr Williamson, 57, was found unconscious with a fractured skull on a roadside path, a few hundred yards from his home in Sutton-on-the-Forest, near Easingwold, early on Monday, March 26. He died later that day in hospital. Mrs Sherwood, who lives in York, said: "On behalf of David's mum and dad, his nieces and their children, I am appealing to anyone who may have any information, however small, to come forward to the police so that the inquiry can be drawn to a conclusion as quickly as possible."

She said her parents, Isaac and Olive Williamson, who are in their eighties and live in Huntington, were "going through an immeasurable degree of distress".

"Someone, somewhere must have noticed a considerable change in the character or mood of someone they know," she added.

She said her brother was "a loving, kind and gentle man, who helped and supported all kinds of charities".

"He cared for some elderly people in Sutton-on-the-Forest, helping them with their shopping, lighting their fires in the morning and ensuring they were able to get to their hospital appointments."

Mrs Sherwood urged anyone with any information to contact the police.

"Only when this process has been brought to a conclusion will David's family be able to begin the normal healing process following such a tragic death, and a once-peaceful village can return to a normal way of life," she added.

Detectives are still searching for a motive for the killing. Acting Det Insp Kevin Ross, one of two officers leading the inquiry, has appealed to villagers in Sutton-on-the-Forest and neighbouring Huby, where Mr Williamson had visited the Star Inn the day before he was found, to "search their minds and their consciences".

Retired railwayman Ernie Henderson, 71, who lives in Sutton-on-the-Forest, knew Mr Williamson for nearly 16 years. He regularly drank with him in the Star Inn and nicknamed him "Doggy Dave" as he would often be seen walking his own and other people's dogs around the village. Former Star Inn landlord Charles Adams then dubbed him "Dogless Dave" after a dog he walked for an elderly woman was run over by a car and killed.

Mr Henderson last saw Mr Williamson the day before his body was discovered, when the pair agreed to go to the Star Inn together, but Mr Williamson did not turn up.

Mr Henderson said: "He was a good mate and he was a smashing fellow. He would do anything for anybody. When I heard what had happened my heart just dropped."

Even though he knew him for so many years, he said, because Mr Williamson was such a quiet and private man, much of his life remained a mystery.

Updated: 11:54 Wednesday, April 11, 2001