Teen denies murdering Ipswich man found dead on New Year’s Day

A teenager has denied killing a man who was discovered dead inside a property on New Year’s Day.

Jake McMillan, 18, is charged with murdering William McNicholl, who was found at a home in Hawthorn Drive in the Chantry area of Ipswich.

The 63-year-old, who police believe may have been killed on Christmas Day, died from head injuries and a stab wound to the right shoulder, a Home Office post-mortem examination previously confirmed.

Mr McMillan, of Peterhouse Close in Chantry, has pleaded not guilty to murder at Ipswich Crown Court. He has been remanded in custody and a trial, expected to last four weeks, has been set for 19 January.

Mr McNicholl, who lived alone and was known to many as Billy, was found by Suffolk Police officers shortly before 18:00 GMT on Wednesday, 1 January.

The force said he had last been seen on 23 December.

In a statement paying tribute to Mr McNicholl, his family described him as a “cheeky geeza with a fun sense of humour”.

“Love him or hate him, the man with many names who meant lots of different things to different people was cool, clever and eccentric,” they added.

“His friends, five nieces and sister remember him as kind and generous, even when he didn’t have much himself… he was a larger than life character with a heart of gold.”