A MAN murdered in broad daylight in Oxford was due to become the father of twins, it has emerged.

The family of Devon McPherson, 42, of Divinity Road, East Oxford, last night revealed their son’s girlfriend was pregnant, as they described the pain of losing their only son.

Mr McPherson was stabbed in the neck in Ridgefield Road, East Oxford, shortly before midday on Monday, May 18.

He is believed to have been arguing with another man before he was stabbed.

Father-of-eight Mr McPherson staggered to the Regal nightclub but later died in hospital.

His parents Delroy, 73, and Zenna, 69, have appealed for more people to come forward with information to help police catch his killer.

Mrs McPherson, of Luton, Bedfordshire, was rushed to hospital when she heard of her son’s murder but has since been released.

She urged people last night: “Please go to the police. Someone somewhere must know something.”

Mr McPherson’s nephew Dean Christie, 28, thanked well-wishers who have placed dozens of candles, flowers and cards outside The Regal.

He added: “He always used to go back and forth between Luton and Oxford to see his family. He was very funny and always cracking jokes. He kept his Oxford life away from his family. But I can only assume he found himself in bad company. We want anybody, no matter if it seems insignificant, to come forward because it may be the last piece in the jigsaw.”

Mr McPherson, who was known for having a gold front tooth, was born in Luton and had lived in Oxford for the past 15 years.

His sister Sandra, 40, died five years ago from lung and heart disease.

Det Chief Insp Mick Saunders said he believed the 42-year-old father knew who attacked him, and claimed police were closing in on the killer.

CCTV footage, which the police will not release, shows Mr McPherson cycling down Magdalen Road at about 11.45am.

The same camera footage shows him returning minutes later with his fatal knife wound and collapsing at The Regal.

Det Chief Insp Saunders said: “There are only two people who know what that altercation was about and one of them is dead.

“There’s been a lot of contact with police suggesting possible motives for the altercation and obviously we are investigating each of these.”

He added: “I am investigating four main suggestions.”

Police raided two properties in Ridgefield Road, and one in adjacent Drove Acre Road, hours after the murder but no arrests have been made.

Officers carried out a fingertip search of gardens and bins but no murder weapon has so far been found.

Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.