Detectives investigating the roadside killing of a great-grandfather have taken a knife for forensic tests as they continue to question a suspect.
Donald Lock, 79, was stabbed repeatedly on Thursday evening after he left his car following a collision with another vehicle on the A24 at Findon, near Worthing, West Sussex.
Lock, who had recently been given the all-clear from cancer and was awaiting his sixth great-grandchild, died at the scene.
A 34-year-old man, from Worthing, continues to be questioned in custody around 18 hours after he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
A statement from Sussex police on Saturday said officers had recovered a knife, and a postmortem confirmed Lock died as a result of stab wounds.
DCI Paul Rymarz, of the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: “Mr Lock was the victim of a violent, unprovoked attack that he had no chance to defend himself against. His family are devastated by his murder and are being supported by specialist officers.”
Before he died, Lock attended a social gathering of Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club, which stages a weekly evening 10-mile time trial in the summer.
He was believed to have been on his way home when he crashed into the back of another car, left his vehicle and was stabbed multiple times. The death devastated family and friends of Lock, a Brighton and Hove Albion season ticket holder, who still cycled up to 150 miles a week.
In a statement, his family said: “He still holds the club record for the 24-hour time trial having remained unbeaten for 44 years. He was full of energy having recently been given the all-clear from cancer.
“Not only was he passionate about cycling but he had also been supporting Brighton and Hove Albion since the 1940s and was a season-ticket holder. He loved travelling the world with his wife Maureen and he adored his family. He and Maureen had just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.”
