By Anne La Jeunesse

Santa Monica police have released a composite likeness of a man who may have witnessed the Nov. 22 murder of transient Richard Wayne Welchel, 36, whose body was found in the 1100 block of Santa Monica State Beach. Welchel had been stabbed to death, according to information released by the Los Angeles County Coroner's Department.

The composite drawing released by police is of a man described as white, 40 to 50 years old, six-feet tall and weighing between 200 and 220 pounds, with sandy brown hair.

The unidentified man, believed to be a witness to Welchel's murder, is a transient known to have frequented and slept near the area of the killing, according to police.

Police have not revealed why this man is believed to be a witness.

The man being sought by police may also frequent Venice Beach and Malibu, and may ride a dark colored bicycle with a basket attached to the front, according to police.

Anyone with information regarding this killing or witness is asked to call Detective W.S. Brown at 310/458-8437.

Welchel was the second transient killed on Santa Monica beach last year.

A man with whom he shared his first and middle names, Richard Wayne Bingle, 45, was killed and sexually assaulted Nov. 1. His battered body, dressed only in a shirt, was found face down in the sand near Ocean Park Boulevard about 4:20 a.m. by another transient who had been sleeping nearby, police said.

Investigators said then that they believed Bingle had been robbed.

Two men, Robert Barkman, 26, and Anthony Roberts, 35, were originally charged with murder in Bingle's death, but pleaded no contest in July to reduced charges of voluntary manslaughter. Each man also pleaded no contest to a charge of robbery.

Barkman was sentenced to serve 12 years in state prison and Roberts to an 11-year prison term.

Bingle, believed to be from Colorado, was beaten and kicked to death and sexually assaulted, authorities said.