A BOY aged three spent three days alone weeping over the body of his father, who had been battered to death at their home in an apparently motiveless attack.

Abraham Marshall is thought to have survived on a few biscuits and had been sleeping huddled next to the corpse. He was finally rescued when relatives called at the flat in Bristol.

Abraham’s mother Lisa died of cancer shortly after he was born, and his father Scott had given up work to care for him. A friend of the family said: “Everyone is devastated. Scott looked after Abraham on his own and he was absolutely devoted to him. Abraham is such a beautiful, boisterous little boy. I can’t stand to think of him all alone in that flat for three days while Scott lay dead on the floor.”

A post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Marshall died from a serious head injury, thought to have been inflicted on Tuesday. The body and the boy were discovered last Friday. Police have issued a public appeal for information. Relatives are now caring for Abraham.

Neighbours left flowers and tributes yesterday at the two-bedroom flat in the Kingsdown area. Mr Marshall, 45, a former cleaner, and his late wife were together for ten years and married only weeks before she died.

The family friend said “When Lisa died, Scott was devastated, but he had Abraham as a comfort. He was very protective over him and they were never apart. Scott was a very intelligent man and he would read to Abraham and play classical music to him. They were the perfect little family.

“Abraham is so happy-go-lucky and sweet. Whenever I went round to their house he was always running about and laughing. He is not a shy boy. His Dad gave him that confidence. I can understand why the poor little thing did not try use the phone to ring anyone. He probably sat by his Dad’s side the whole time. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Mr Marshall was helped by his mother, Betty, who lives in the city, but preferred to keep Abraham constantly by his side. The friend added: “They really struggled financially but Scott just got on with it. Abraham was his world.”

Detective Inspector Nigel Woods said: “Our inquiries suggest that this is an isolated incident on a man in his own home.

“This is still the very early stages of the inquiry and we are urging anyone with any information to contact us — even the smallest piece of information can help us to piece together what happened.”

A police spokeswoman added: “Abraham is very traumatised and is being cared for by relatives.”

A 27-year-old man from Clifton, Bristol, has been charged with murder. He was remanded in custody by magistrates yesterday.

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