First picture of ‘brilliant’ graduate Greg Peake found dead in Hoxton suspected murder

The family of a “brilliant” journalism graduate who police believe was murdered said today: “Our lives have changed for ever.”

Greg Peake, 26, was found unresponsive by paramedics who were called to his flat in Hoxton on Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An initial autopsy proved inconclusive but homicide detectives are investigating his death as murder. They have said he was not shot or stabbed.

Mr Peake moved to London after landing a dream job at academic publishing giant Sage in October. His mother Julie Shaw Peake shared a photo of him on Facebook with the caption: “Words fail me. My life is forever changed.”

Mr Peake, who has family in the Midlands, grew up in Durban in South Africa and was a freelance journalist in Johannesburg.

He moved to Britain about five years ago, working in marketing before securing a London job as a communications executive for Sage.

He is understood to have been living in the rented flat on the Cranston Estate where he was found dead at 12.40pm on Sunday.

A 28-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was released on bail until June.

Detectives carried out door-to-door enquiries at the block and searched bins and drains.

Friends and relatives paid tribute to Mr Peake. Speaking from Romania, schoolfriend Sayjian Parumaul said he was “an eccentric and funny guy who always made class more entertaining. I really hope his family stay strong.”

Peter Turner, a former English teacher at Crawford College in Johannesburg, called him a “wonderfully witty, eccentric and original soul”.

Ranka Jovanovic of news site ITWeb, where Mr Peake had worked, said: “I am devastated to hear such a brilliant young man has died.”

Friend Duncan Jackson said Mr Peake had “a good heart and strong opinions with a drive to making the world a better place, wrapped up in a devilish sense of humour and wide grin”.

Sage said: “We wish to express our condolences to Greg’s family. Greg was a friend to everyone. He was passionate about music, live shows, Star Wars, writing and researching. He had the ability to make the whole team burst out laughing.”

Witnesses should contact police on 020 8721 4054.