'Caring' Kingsley murder victim worked as a healthcare assistant in Northampton mental health hospital for three years

A 'caring' man whose death is the centre of a murder investigation worked at a Northampton mental health hospital for three years.

Christopher Allbury-Burridge was stabbed inside a property in Raeburn Road, Kingsley just after 2.15am on Friday (December 11).

The 33-year-old died a short while after and Northamptonshire Police launched a murder investigation on the same day. No arrests have been made as yet.

Between 2014 and 2017, Christopher, who was also known as Chris, worked as a healthcare assistant at St Andrew's Hospital in Billing Road.

Staff who knew Christopher and the hospital's boss have now paid tribute to the 'much loved' former employee.

Katie Fisher, St Andrew’s CEO said: "We were shocked and saddened to hear the tragic news about Chris over the weekend.

"Although he hasn’t worked for St Andrew’s for several years, he was a much loved member of the St Andrew’s family and staff have this morning been sharing their heartfelt condolences and memories of his time here.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Since Christopher was named on Sunday (December 13), there has also been an outpouring of tributes on social media from those who knew him.

One friend said: "I cannot believe this has happened to you my beautiful boy. You were like one of our family, we are devastated."

Another added: "You were such a kind lovely man. It was an honour and privilege to have you as a friend.

"I can't believe this has happened to such a nice person. You will be sorely missed."

Another friend commented: "He was a great support worker and I met him a few times. He had so much patience for his job. How very sad."

In the full family tribute, Elaine, Christopher's mum, said: “As a family, we are devastated by the loss of Christopher. It would have been his 34th birthday later this month.

"His career was spent serving and caring for others.

“In these difficult times that everyone is facing, we ask the general public to please help us bring his killer to justice. Chris was a kind, and caring person, who did not deserve to lose his life in this cruel and brutal way.

“Please look around you, and find it in your hearts to help to stop his killer from robbing another person of their life.

"Please assist us and Northamptonshire Police to find his killer.”

More than 50 detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) have been working on the investigation, conducting house-to-house inquiries in the area, forensic searches and trawls of CCTV footage.

Anyone with information regarding the murder investigation is urged to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Information can also be sent directly to Northamptonshire Police's major incident team via the public reporting page.

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