Ipswich murder: Teenager charged after man fatally stabbed in Christmas tragedy

Daily Mirror

22-07-2025

A teenager has been charged with the murder of a "larger than life character with a heart of gold" - more than six months after he was stabbed to death.
Although William McNicholl, 63, was found dead on January 1, it is thought he was attacked on or around Christmas Day last year. A post-mortem examination found he died from a single stab wound and multiple head injuries.
Jake McMillan was arrested on suspicion of murder in January but was bailed with conditions and, yesterday, the 18-year-old man was re-arrested on suspicion of murder and charged. The teenager, also charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis, will appear at Ipswich Magistrates' Court today.
Mr McNicholl, who was also known as Billy and Electric Bill, remembered him as a "cheeky geeza with a fun sense of humour". Speaking in January, his family, from Ipswich, said: "Love him or hate him, the man with many names who meant lots of different things to different people, was cool, clever and eccentric. 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."
McMillan, who used to live in Ipswich but since moved to Hackney, east London, is one of several people arrested in connection with the investigation in the previous six months. On April 1, a further three people were arrested as part of the probe.
The 17-year-old boy, 18-year-old man and 41-year-old man were detained on suspicion of assisting an offender and being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs. They were taken to a police station in Ipswich for questioning and were subsequently bailed to return to police on October 1.
A woman aged in her 50s, who was previously arrested on suspicion of murder before being released on bail, has been told she will face no further action, Suffolk Police told the media today.
It is unclear whether Mr McNicholl knew McMillan or not. However, there were no signs of forced entry in the Ipswich home, officers say. Mr McNicholl, who loved his dogs, including his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Leo, was using social media on December 25, and no later, the investigation has found.
Mr McNicholl, who was also a "whizz at a Rubik's Cube", was a well known personality in Ipswich in the 1970s having moved to the area from London. He was involved in political protests, including one opposed to the introduction of the poll tax, and was heavily integrated in the punk music scene in Suffolk.