TWO people were being held by murder investigators last night as a family friend described the 23-year-old victim as a “lovely lad”.

A man believed to be Kyle Byfield was discovered suffering from puncture wounds at a flat in Jubilee Court, Banbury, after police were called yesterday at about 8am.

He was taken to the Horton General Hospital but died later that day.

A woman, 26, and a man, 22 – both from Banbury – were arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of murder and were last night in custody.

Rachel Morrison was a friend of Mr Byfield’s mum and said their children went to school together at St John’s Roman Catholic Primary School and Blessed George Napier Catholic School in Banbury.

She said Mr Byfield “always had a smile on his face”.

The 44-year-old added: “He was a lovely lad, a cheeky chappy and was funloving.

He was very sporty and played rugby. My daughter, Rebecca, was friends with him throughout school and she is in bits because she has lost a close friend. I used to take him to school in the morning. We wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

Mr Byfield’s family was informed yesterday and police cordoned off the area surrounding the flats while a forensics team investigated the scene.

Jubilee Court resident Joy Williams, 71, said her husband Thomas had heard shouting when he went out to walk their dog before he went work.

She added: “I’m quite shocked. It’s terrible what has happened.”

Det Supt Chris Ward, from Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “Sadly the man who was injured has died in hospital. This is not believed to be a random incident. We are currently at the very early stages of this investigation and are in the process of determining the exact circumstances which led to the victim’s death.”