A GOOD man with a heart of gold

That is how friends today remembered Christopher Thompson who was found dead in Chantry Park on Thursday morning.

The 35-year-old’s body was discovered by a dog walker just after 6am.

A post-mortem examination revealed he died from strangulation and assault injuries.

Scott Clarke, a friend of the former Chantry High School pupil, said: “Chris was a good man with a heart of gold. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him, friends and family – he was such a good, kind-hearted man. He would go out of his way to help those who needed it and loved those around him. He will be missed so much by us all.

“We are thinking of Chris and his family and our prayers are with them.”

Lisa Clarke added: “This is very shocking for all who knew him. He is going to be missed by so many people.

“He was one of the nicest people I know. My thoughts at this time are with his family.”

The tributes come as family members, who were too distressed to speak yesterday, released the first picture of Mr Thompson, formerly of London Road, and detectives continue to look into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Chantry Park re-opened to the public over the weekend as police charged two people with Mr Thompson’s murder.

Christopher Wilson, 33, and Deanna Stanton, 26, both of no fixed address, were taken into custody on Friday afternoon and quizzed by detectives. Wilson and Stanton will appear at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court today.

A 42-year-old man from Ipswich arrested on Thursday in connection with the murder inquiry has been bailed to return to police on January 8.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the major investigation team at Suffolk police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.