The prime suspect in the murder of a quantity surveyor who was beaten to death in his home was named today as an immigrant who has been living in West Bromwich.

Police want to question Florian Baboi, aged 34, over the death of 63-year-old David McArthur, from Birmingham.

Detectives believe Mr McArthur may have known his attacker, but are also investigating the possibility that it was a burglary gone wrong.

Mr McArthur was found by neighbours in the hallway of his house Woodbrooke Grove in Northfield, on Monday, at 1.30pm.

He was last seen the previous afternoon at his house.

Mr McArthur died from blunt force trauma and had been left with broken ribs and a fractured skull.

Acting Det Ch Insp Wayne Jones, who is leading the investigation, said this afternoon: “The motivation for the attack is still not clear.

“Items were disturbed in the house and we’re still trying to establish if anything was taken.”

Baboi, who is also known as Jildow, is from Romania and has connections to London and West Bromwich.

Officers say he had been living in the Izon Street area, and today revealed they had raided a house in the street on Wednesday as they searched for him.

Mr Jones said officers suspected he may still be in the town and appealed for anyone who had seen him to get in touch.

He said the victim, who was not married and did not have children, suffered “massive injuries”.

Friends described him as “the nicest man you could wish to meet”.

Mr Jones said: “He has no home address so must be staying with somebody. They can ring 999 and let us know in confidence where he is.”

Officers can also be reached on 0345 113 5000.