A SENIOR cop has denied the death of murdered Billyjoe Bates was connected to gang violence as his devastated mother made an appeal for his killer to “look to their conscience”.

Billyjoe died in hospital four days after a violent attack in Milton in November last year.

Six months on from his death, the 28-year-old’s mother Jackie Wilson said every day he is gone is “mental torture”.

His mother Jackie Wilson said: “I am appealing for anyone who has any information about the murder of my son Billyjoe or for the person responsible to look to their conscience and come forward.

“It has been six months now and I still can’t face the fact that he will never walk back through the door.

“Billyjoe was my absolute world. Every day without him is mental torture.

“He did not deserve to die the way he did. Myself and my family are heartbroken and deserve answers to why this has happened.

“If you have any information please contact the police or Crimestoppers.”

Detective Inspector Scott McCallum, who is leading a dedicated team of specialist officers, reassured the Milton community that Billyjoe’s death was not connected to gang culture.

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He said: “I would like to reiterate that I’ve got no information that this was in any shape or form engaged with gang culture nor was it anything to do with serious and organised crime.

“However, if any information was to come in then I would look at it seriously and exploit any lines of inquiry.” 

Mr McCallum thanked the local community for the information given so far but said someone knows who Billyjoe’s killer is.

He issued a fresh appeal for a potential witness who was seen around the time of the attack in the nearby Londis store and then walking along Kippen Street.

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The man is described as aged between 25 to 45, of medium build, approximately 5ft 9in to 5ft 11in and had dark facial hair with a neatly trimmed beard, moustache and sideburns.

He was wearing a grey beanie hat, a black jacket, black jogging bottoms and white trainers.

The man bought milk and American Cream Soda at the Londis.

A previous appeal asked for two other witnesses to come forward, one of whom was bare chested.

Mr McCallum added: “I believe I know the identity of those two men.

“My appeal was for anyone who may have seen them at the material time and I would still appeal for anyone to come forward if they saw those men.”