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The aunt of 'extrovert' father-of-two at the centre of a murder investigation has paid tribute to him.
Former paratrooper Luke Sullivan was stabbed to death in Rochester last month.
The 31-year-old died at a property in Rochester High Street on Thursday, November 21.
Mystery still surrounds exactly what happened. A man aged 37 remains on police bail until tomorrow.
Miss Sullivan, 55, of Plover Road, Minster, said: “Luke was married to Jade and had been hoping to return to Sheppey to make a fresh start.
“There has been a lot of speculation about what happened that night but we just don’t know the full facts. Things are still unravelling.”
She added: “None of us can believe his life has been taken at such a young age. We want to get to the bottom of what happened and get justice.
“Luke was always a funny young man and loved singing. He wanted to make it his career. He had an excellent voice and had made a CD. He performed in pubs and clubs on Sheppey and Rochester and loved karaoke. He was a cheeky chappie.”
Luke was born on the Island and went to Minster College before moving to Rochester six years ago. He leaves two sons, two brothers Chrioni and Cameron and two sisters Shree and Nadia.
His disabled mother Tanya and father Wayne live in Prince Charles Avenue, Minster. Both are too distraught to talk about their loss.
Miss Sullivan, a mum of three and grandmother of 13, added: “My brother Wayne was with me when we heard the news. He has taken it very hard. Luke was the strong one in the family. It is just awful. It has been really traumatic and devastating.”
Luke’s funeral will be at Trinity Church in Sheerness Broadway at 10am on Tuesday, December 31. His aunt added: “Everyone who knew him is welcome to come to the service. He didn’t write a will but he’d said he didn’t want people to wear dark colours at his funeral.” The service is being handled by Luke Allum Funeral Directors in Broadway, Sheerness, call 01795 669534 for more.
Luke Sullivan was an extrovert because of his circus showbusiness roots, said his aunt.
Mrs Sullivan said: “My late mum Sheila Sullivan-Ingham was a singer and would ride horses and elephants around the ring and dance with a snake. My father Gary was an actor in the Carry On films.
“Luke loved hearing the old stories. He and his Nan would love to sing together. They were both natural show-offs. That must be where Luke got his love of performing from. He was very close to his Nan. They were always giggling together.”
Miss Sullivan’s Australian grandfather, originally part of the six-strong Colleno Brothers trapeze troupe, was posted to Britain in the war and the family ended up living near Pinewood Studios.
Miss Sullivan added: “Sid James became a regular visitor to our home and would often bring us kids presents and my mum was a friend of Barbara Windsor.”
The family moved to Sheppey in 1978 after getting a caravan in Plough Lane, Minster, and then buying a house in Dumergue Avenue, Queenborough.
Miss Sullivan said Luke was also very thoughtful and “very supportive” to his young cousins when his other aunt April died. Luke spent a while in the Paras before being invalided out on health grounds. His father had served in the Royal Marines.
Miss Sullivan added: “Luke was very patriotic and had been proud to have served for his country.”
