'He was only visiting London to help mother'

Elliot Guy, the 27-year-old who died in the early hours of yesterday morning after he was stabbed in the neck at a north London party, was the father of a new-born baby who was visiting his mother to help her decorate her house.

His mother lived a short walk from where he staggered down the street and collapsed in a pool of blood outside a nightclub. Her neighbours in Tufnell Park said Mr Guy lived in Devon, and was "one of the nicest boys you could see". He was believed to have recently completed a spell as a student.

"I watched him grow up," said one neighbour. "He was so innocent. That's why I'm so choked. I can't imagine the pain his family is going through."

Another said: "He didn't deserve it at all. I still can't believe it. It hasn't sunk in yet. I can't understand it. I feel a cold shiver run through me when I think about it. It's such a waste of life." A third neighbour described him as a "very quiet, very nice boy".

Police were last night holding for questioning a 41-year-old man, a 30-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman at separate north London police stations in connection with his death.

Mr Guy was at a house- party in nearby Junction Road, Holloway, when he was thought to have been stabbed during a row shortly before 3am.

Residents said he stumbled down the road and collapsed in front of the Dome Music Hall in Dartmouth Park Hill, where door staff did their best to help him.

He was then taken to the Whittington Hospital, a few hundred yards away, but died at 4am.

Yesterday a pile of blood-soaked dressings was still lying on the pavement as forensic experts combed the street for evidence.

Police said they were keeping an open mind as to the motive for Mr Guy's stabbing.