Don't blame net for student's death

A WEBSITE message from the mother of a stabbed Suffolk student has said his involvement with a gaming site played no part in his death.

In a message posted on the website where her son Matthew Pyke was an administrator, Kim Pyke, from Stowmarket, said the internet was not responsible for the tragedy.

It was left on the Advance Wars Net Community - dedicated to the Nintendo game her son Matthew ran a forum on - a week after the discovery of the 20-year-old's body in a flat in Nottingham.

The post said: “To all members - thank you all for your comments on Matt's death. I am his mother and never had any idea that he had achieved so much in his short time or that he was so highly thought of.

“It means a great deal to all of his family that you have taken the trouble to write about him.

“Neither Nottingham or the internet caused his death - this will all become clear. I hope no-one ever tries to prevent the gaming community doing what they obviously love doing.”

German computer games enthusiast David Heiss, 21, is currently facing extradition to the UK in connection with Mr Pyke's death.

Detectives from Nottinghamshire Police have been investigating Mr Pyke's links to the online gaming world. There had been reports he had argued with a fellow gamer.

Police tracked Heiss down through a series of postings on the internet before contacting German police.

Extradition proceedings against the Limburg district resident have still not gone through due to the complex paperwork having not yet been completed.

Last Tuesday Heiss wrote on Mr Pyke's girlfriend's Facebook page - four days after she found her boyfriend dead.

He posted: “I will pray for you, Jo. You must be suffering unbelievable pains. I'm sorry for having caused so much trouble lately. I hope you won't lose all your hope. We will be there for you.”

Mr Pyke moved to Nottingham from Suffolk two years ago and was about to start a degree at Nottingham Trent University.