ROUGH sleeper Martin Dines was found dead in a stairwell of St Mary's car park shortly before 9am on Monday.
What followed was a rapid police investigation which has so far yielded four arrests and two murder charges.
Here are the key points:
Friday night
Mr Dines, 56, is understood to have been involved in an argument in the town centre.
Sunday night
The rough sleeper was seen by friends after having been badly beaten up. It is assumed he makes his way to St Mary's car park, where he regularly slept.
Monday
8.55am
Mr Dines is found not breathing in one of the stairwells in the Balkerne Hill car park
11am
Essex Police release a statement, which says a man had been found "deceased". The car park was expected to be closed for much of the day as forensic officers combed the area for evidence.
Areas which rough sleepers and drinkers are known to congregate, such as the graveyard at Colchester Arts Centre, are visited by officers.
The graveyard is subsequently locked.
3.30pm
Essex Police confirms detectives had launched a murder investigation and anyone with information on Mr Dines' death was encouraged to come forward.
Mr Dines is yet to be named but word quickly spreads among the rough sleeper community.
6.30pm
Detectives say St Mary's car park could be closed for up to 48 hours while investigations are carried out.
Drivers who urgently need their vehicle could, though, be escorted out.
Tuesday
1am-3am
Four people are arrested on suspicion of murder during raids in the early hours of the morning.
8am
Mr Dines' nickname, Freddie (or Frederick) circulates widely on social media, leading to confusion over Mr Dines' official identity.
11am
Martin Dines is named by pals who tell our reporter they had last seen him having been badly beaten on Sunday night.
3pm
Essex Police provisionally identify Mr Dines as the victim and again ask for anyone with information on his death to come forward.
Wednesday
2pm
Heidi Kennedy, 46, of Queen Elizabeth Way, is charged with the murder of Mr Dines.
She appears in Colchester Magistrates' Court and is remanded into custody to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court tomorrow (Friday).
3pm
Mr Dines' father, Brian, pays tribute to his son, saying although he had had a hard life, he was a loveable man.
Thursday
7.30am
A second person, 46-year-old Darren Miller, is charged with Mr Dines' murder.
10.30am
He appears briefly in court and is remanded into custody to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court alongside co-accused Kennedy, tomorrow.
A 32-year-old man remains in custody while a 47-year-old man, who was also arrested on suspicion of murder, has since been released under investigation.
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