Basil McAfee shopping in an off licence on December 19 hours before he was murdered

DETECTIVES hunting the ‘dangerous’ killer of Basil McAfee have revealed he was battered around the head with an axe before being stabbed and left to die.

The horrific details of his death have emerged on the day police issued CCTV images of him from the last day he was seen alive.

They hope the up-to-date images will help jog the memory of any potential witnesses who have yet to come forward with their information and help catch the killers.

The grim discovery of Paschal ‘Basil’ Afee’s body made by his mother at her home in Henderson Avenue, off the Cavehill Road, on Friday, December 20.

A 34-year-old man arrested on December 23 as part of the investigation was released on Boxing Day.

The CCTV images of Mr McAfee were taken in an off-licence on the Cavehill Road on the afternoon of Thursday 19 December.

The senior officer from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team who is leading the hunt for Mr McAfee’s killer hopes the CCTV images will unearth new witnesses.

Said Detective Chief Inspector John McVea, said: “These images are a better likeness of Basil than a previously issued photo.

Last picture of Basil McAfee buying alcohol in an off licence on December 20

“We want people to look at them and think about whether they recognise Basil and whether they saw him any time between 4 pm on Thursday, December 19 in the off-licence until he was found in Henderson Avenue at 1pm on Friday, December 20.

“We believe Basil was with other people, but so far they have not come forward. We need to know who he was with and where he was.

“Basil suffered a violent death. I believe he was beaten about the head with a sharp implement, an axe and then stabbed with a long knife.

“This was a savage, frenzied attack. A number of items were taken from the house. Whoever did this is a danger to others in the community while still at large.”

DCI McVea said police were following a number of lines of inquiry.

One line of inquiry is that he was killed by a ‘drinking buddy’ who then fled the scene and left Mr McAfee die a painful death.

DCI McVea has urged anyone with information to contact them on 0845 600 8000 or anonymously on Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.