THE ex-partner of murder victim Devon Delroy McPherson tonight appealed for help in catching his killer – for the sake of the couple’s two daughters.

Victoria Shepherd said Mr McPherson, who died last week after being stabbed in the neck near The Regal nightclub in East Oxford, was a loving dad who was adored by their two daughters, nine-year-old Candace and six-year-old Cherish.

The two little girls have laid flowers at the point where the 42-year-old collapsed before dying. And, yesterday, Mrs Shepherd, 34, appealed for anyone with information about the killer to come forward.

No-one has yet been arrested for the killing. Mrs Shepherd said: “We want his killer caught. His children need the person caught for their peace of mind.

“He was taken away in the most horrible way. If anyone has any information then I would urge them to go to the police.

“I believe there are people out there who knew who did it. I want those people to find it in their hearts to help his children – to let them sleep at night knowing the man who killed their father has been caught.”

Mrs Shepherd, from Bracknell, said she had shared a relationship with Mr McPherson for about seven years, and lived together in Cowley Road, Oxford. They split up about five years ago because Mrs Shepherd, who has since married, wanted to move closer to her family in Berkshire.

She said: “I was introduced to him by a friend. We fell in love. He was a ‘street’ man and there are a lot of rumours going around about him, some true and some not.

“But I want people to know he was a family man and his daughters loved him.

“The girls absolutely idolised him, Candace especially. She is finding it really hard and is crying herself to sleep.

“He absolutely adored his daughters. He was a proud dad, and he was good at providing. If I needed anything for the girls, all I had to do was phone him. And if they ever had a problem they could speak to him.”

Mr McPherson, of Divinity Road, who was also known as Jay, was seen arguing with another man in Ridgefield Road, East Oxford, shortly before his death at about midday last Monday.

A few minutes later, he staggered into the Regal with fatal stab wounds.

Detectives have carried out a fingertip search of gardens and bins in Ridgefield Road but have not found the murder weapon.

Officers also raided three homes in Ridgefield Road and one in Drove Acre Road at 9pm the same day, but nobody was arrested.

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

esimmonds@oxfordmail.co.uk