The first picture of a Brighton murder victim was released tonight as police applied for more time to question two people over his death.

Jon Ellison, 48, was found battered to death at his home early on Friday morning.

Police have arrested a 32-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman from Brighton on suspicion of his murder.

The pair were questioned in custody on Sunday and Monday and officers were expected to apply to magistrates tonight for extra time to question them.

The arrests were made in a multi-storey car park in Winchester, Hampshire, late on Saturday night.

Mr Ellison had been found badly beaten in his ground-floor flat in Gloucester Street, Brighton, at about 2.10am on Friday.

Wounds on his hands showed he had tried to defend himself.

Police believe a long blunt instrument was used to kill him.

Detective Inspector Carwyn Hughes said yesterday: "We are still keen to hear from anyone else who was in or around Gloucester Street in the North Laine area of the city centre on Thursday evening or the early hours of Friday morning and who saw anything suspicious.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999, quoting Operation Felsham, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.