Beryl Hallam Augustine Tennyson, the great grandson of the poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson, was found dead in his bed at his home in Shepherds Hill, Highgate, north London, at 11.20pm on 21 December 2005.
The 85-year-old retired author and broadcaster had suffered several stab wounds and severe head injuries and a postmortem gave the cause of death as stab wounds to his neck.
A man was arrested by police investigating the murder but was later released and nobody has ever been charged.
Tennyson, a descendant of the poet laureate Alfred Tennyson, was an Old Etonian who had worked as an assistant head of drama at the BBC. He had two children and seven grandchildren and was open about his homosexuality, with newspaper suggesting that he regularly invited men back to his flat.
In February 2006 the Metropolitan Police released CCTV images of Tennyson entering Great Portland Street Tube station at 4.05pm on 21 December at Angel tube station in Islington around 25 minutes later.
According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, he was found dead by his boyfriend, Kevin.
The investigating officer at the time, DCI Tony Nash, said: “This was a brutal attack on an elderly and vulnerable man. Despite his years, Mr Tennyson was a lively individual who continued to lead a full and active life. We urge anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible.”
Police had offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
He was 85, but very active. He went to the theatre, played tennis three times a week and had lots of friends. He was very involved in their lives. He was an integral part of our lives and somebody has taken that away from us. He had a lot to live for and he was a very special man.
Daughter-in-law Janice Tennyson
Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Sources: Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Independent, ThisisLocalLondon
The suspect/s could be his boyfriend, but it is hard if he keeps inviting them secretly in his place. Nobody knows and nobody is a witness.