A DECADE may have passed since Mick Love was murdered but his family are still hopeful his killer will be brought to justice.

Saturday marked 10 years since the 40-year-old postal worker, described as a ‘gentle giant’ was stabbed to death in a street robbery in Old Town following a night out.

Although someone was arrested and went to trial, he was found not guilty and since then no further progress has been made on the case.

The family still hold on to the hope someone will eventually be punished for the crime but the events of 2004 still remain raw for Mick’s wife, Karen.

She said: “The pain never gets easier but you just have to learn to live with it.

“As time passes you just have to go on. We had two children so we had to keep going day to day.

“It was an absolutely senseless killing all for a bit of change and a mobile phone. He was just walking home and did not deserve what happened. No one should have had that happen.

“I still hope that someone will be caught. I have to have that belief that we will get justice.”

The crime shocked the town when it happened and sparked a huge police investigation.

Colin Lewin, then 35, and of Broad Street, Swindon, pleaded not guilty to the murder and was acquitted by a jury.

Every year, friends organise a special night of music in memory of Mick, with this year being no exception.

“He was a huge fan of punk music so his friends get their bands together,” said Karen.

“The evenings are lovely but also sad because the person you really want to be there can’t. Mick was a lovely man and a great father. The children were four and eight when their dad was killed and they have done so well. It has been difficult because Mick has not been there for all the big milestones.

“Because it has been 10 years, this anniversary has been harder than most because you realise just how much time has passed and what Mick has missed.”

Karen has appealed to anyone who might have some information on her husband’s murder, however trivial, to come forward to the police.

On September 27, 2004, Mick was seen on CCTV leaving Bombay Brasserie, in Regent Circus, with a friend at 3.12am.

They started to walk up Victoria Road and parted company at the junction of Durham Street, by the Jewel in the Crown.

Mick then continued on his own up Victoria Road. Mobile phone evidence shows Mick’s sim card was in his phone at 3.33am. By 3.48am the sim card had been removed and a new one had been put in his phone. It is believed his killer struck during this time and stole the phone, throwing Mick’s sim card away and putting his own in the phone.

Mick’s body was discovered at 5.29am in Cannon Street. The phone, sim card, and the handle of the knife used in the murder have never been found.

Karen said: “If anyone has any information then please contact the police. They follow up leads and are grateful for anything, even it means they can rule it out. I know it has been a long time but someone may have vital information.”

If anyone thinks they know anything about Mick’s murder, call the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.