THE uncle of an alleged murder victim says his family is "absolutely devastated" at the loss of a "kind and popular" man.
Richard Rovetto, 29, died in the early hours of Sunday morning after an assault on Bestwood Park Drive in Top Valley.
Police are continuing to question a 26-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Mr Rovetto's uncle, Steven Rovetto, told the Post that the family was heartbroken.
The 53-year-old, of Bulwell, said: "Yesterday I kept thinking somebody was going to come and tell us they'd got the wrong person.
"I just couldn't comprehend that this kind of thing could happen to Richard.
"But it's beginning to sink in a bit more now, and we're absolutely devastated."
Steven was woken with the news at 6am on Sunday, just hours after the police had found Richard with serious injuries at about 2am.
He later died at Queen's Medical Centre.
Steven said his nephew, who had an eight-year-old son, would be sadly missed.
He said: "Richard was a kind and popular man. He was loved by everybody.
"The amount of tributes we've had is amazing – we've been inundated.
"He was a real family man and he loved his son to pieces."
Richard, a keen Nottingham Forest fan, grew up on Caythorpe Rise in Sherwood alongside his older brother Anthony, and attended Haywood School. He had recently started a job at E.on.
Richard's aunt Maria Rovetto, of Bulwell, said: "Richard was so loving and the most wonderful person you could ever meet.
"He was a brilliant father and absolutely worshipped his son. I'm really proud that he was part of my family."
The police cordon on Bestwood Park Drive has now been lifted, but several flower bouquets remain at the scene.
Residents living nearby told the Post on Monday that the community was still in shock.
Inez Reid, 88, of Masson Court, said: "Everyone I've spoken to is still shaken by what's happened.
"It's just so terrible. I saw all the police here yesterday and was horrified when they told me what had happened.
"I just keep thinking about the person who died. I didn't know him but apparently he had a young son – it's made me cry, it's so sad."
Another resident on Heatherington Gardens, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's frightening for something like this to happen, especially as there was a shooting here a few years ago."
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police on 101.
