A GERMAN held over the killing of Stowmarket gaming fanatic Matthew Pyke went into work for two days after the alleged murder, it has emerged.

A GERMAN held over the killing of Stowmarket gaming fanatic Matthew Pyke went into work for two days after the alleged murder, it has emerged.

A colleague of 21-year-old David Heiss said he came into the office last Monday and Tuesday before his arrest the next day. It is thought Mr Pyke was killed the previous Friday.

Daniela Ziegler works with Heiss at the offices of textile company Dystar in Frankfurt.

She said: "We are all very shocked."

Ms Ziegler first met Heiss when he joined the company as a trainee in September last year.

She said: "He told me about having a girlfriend in Nottingham, and that he will study there next year, and how it's so important for him to finish his training as early as he can."

Heiss, who met Mr Pyke, 20, and his girlfriend Joanna Witton through on-line gaming, is believed to have flown to England to visit them at their Nottingham home twice.

A German news agency claimed Heiss had fallen in love with Miss Witton, 20, but police have refused to comment on the suggestion.

Heiss was arrested by German police in his home village of Dauborn, 75km from Frankfurt, and is in custody in the nearby town of Limburg an der Lahn awaiting an extradition hearing.

Former classmates of Heiss have spoken of their shock at his arrest. Ina Bar, a former pupil at the Tilemannschule school in Limburg, Germany, where Heiss was a pupil for nine years, said: "I was in class with him for three years. I am shocked because David was a nice guy."

Ms Bar claimed Heiss had always been an outsider during his school years.

Another former classmate, who did not want to be named, said: "This story is so horrible. He was very shy.

"No one really knew him."

Heiss was arrested last month on suspicion of murdering Mr Pyke at his flat in North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, on Friday, September 19.

Details and pictures of Heiss have also been posted on a German website called StudiVZ, which allows people to link up with their old classmates. Heiss last updated his profile on September 21, two days after Matthew Pyke's death.

Heiss lists his favourite film as Pulp Fiction and his favourite books as European literature from the 1800s.

He also states that he is a member of the chess club SJG Limburg.

Mr Pyke, 20, a former Stowmarket High School student, moved to Nottingham around two years ago.

He was due to start a course at Nottingham Trent University in October. It is believed it was Miss Witton who discovered his body in their flat

Pay your tribute to Matthew Pyke - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk