Mother of murdered man pleads to find killer as £50k reward offered to find one of UK's most wanted fugitives

Police have hunted the suspect for two years
Tracey Hanson with her son Josh
Met Police
Patrick Grafton-Green11 October 2017
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The mother of a man brutally murdered in an unprovoked attack in a west London bar has renewed an appeal to find his killer, one of UK's most wanted fugitives.

Shane O’Brien, who now heads the National Crime Agency’s Most Wanted list, has been hunted by police for two years after he knifed 21-year-old Josh Hanson to death.

Mr Hanson, from Kingsbury, north-west London, died at the scene after the incident at the RE Bar in Hillingdon.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene in the early hours of October 11, 2015, and found him suffering a serious wound to the neck.

Mr Hanson's mother Tracey has made a heartbreaking appeal exactly two years after the horrific incident, with a £50,000 price tag now on O’Brien’s head.

Wanted: Shane O'Brien
Met Police

She said: “These past 24 months have been a living nightmare, a nightmare that I would not wish on anyone.

“I nurtured my son from the moment I saw him, held his hand while he took his first steps, handed him his school bag on his first day of school and watched him grow into a bright, capable, funny and loving young man who worked hard and provided for his family.

“We laughed and cried together and shared our innermost thoughts and secrets; he was my son and he was also my best friend.

“Imagine pouring over photos and small video clips because that is all that is left that can bring you close to almost touching your child, and imagine having to share your pain and your grieving alongside a manhunt.

Murdered: Josh Hanson
Met Police

“While we grieve Shane O’Brien, the man the police would like to speak to in connection with my son's murder, has yet to be caught and we still wait for justice.

“I hope and pray that you only ever have to imagine what I have just shared with you and it never becomes your reality because it rips at your soul and your very being.”

O’Brien, 29, was arrested in February this year in Prague for criminal damage and assault. Scotland Yard said he used the Italian alias of Enzo Mellonceli, supported by false documentation, and was bailed pending further enquiries.

An image taken then shows he has grown his hair and has a full beard and a distinctive new tattoo of an owl holding a skull, which covers up a previous “Shannon 15-04-06” tattoo.

O'Brien's distinctive tattoo
Met Police

After being flown out of the UK in a privately chartered plane from Biggin Hill Airport following the murder, O'Brien could have spent time in the Netherlands and Dubai before his arrest in Prague.

He has been using the Italian aliases of Enzo Mellonceli and Enzo Machado.

Originally from Ladbroke Grove, he is described as white and 6ft with grey eyes and dark brown hair.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "It is clear he is being helped by others to evade police and has the ability to move around without using his own identity.

A £50,000 reward is being offered for Shane O'Brien.

"That is why we decided to offer such a large reward - £50,000 is a substantial amount of money and I hope it will encourage someone who moves in O'Brien's circles to come forward.

“When arrested in Prague, O’Brien had boxing gloves with him. He uses gyms and will continue to do so I’m sure. His new tattoo is so distinctive it should stick in the mind of fellow boxers, or possibly a new partner.

“I would like to hear from the tattoo artist who covered up his original ‘Shannon 15-04-06’ tattoo, it would have taken several sittings.”

Josh Hanson, 21, was knifed to death.

O'Brien should not be approached by members of the public and any sightings of him should be reported immediately by calling 999, police said.

Two men have so far been arrested as part of the investigation into Mr Hanson's murder.

On Wednesday, October 28 2015, detectives arrested a 24-year-old man and a 29-year-old man who were on an inbound flight to the UK – on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting an offender.

They were subsequently bailed to return on a date in October pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information about O’Brien or his whereabouts can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org or the police incident room on 020 8785 8099.

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