A BRITISH man who stabbed his flat mate to death in Portugal has been found after spending more than a year on the run.
William Hunter murdered 22-year-old Elliot Mulligan in an Albufeira apartment in April 2022.
William Hunter has been arrested in Spain after spending 17 months on the run[/caption]
Hunter was convicted of murdering his flat mate, Elliot Mulligan, in 2022[/caption]
The 34-year-old was sentenced to spend 18 years behind bars for killing the Liverpool man, but lodged an appeal in 2023.
He was released on bail in April the following year, after reaching the custodial time limit for prisoners on remand.
Hunter immediately breached his bail and fled, leading police on a multi-agency manhunt.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said he was arrested by Guardia Civil officers in Alicante on September 15.
Portuguese authorities have sought the killer to be extradited and complete his jail sentence.
In a statement, NCA spokesman Gill Duggan said: “Above all, our thoughts remain with Elliot’s family, who have endured an unimaginable loss and the painful reality that the man responsible had not been held accountable for his violent actions”.
“Our pursuit of Hunter was relentless, driven by a deep commitment to securing justice for those who love Elliot,” he continued.
“With thanks to our partners at Merseyside Police and in Spain and Portugal, Hunter is behind bars where he belongs, and where he will remain for a long time to come.”
Detective Superintendent Mark Drew from Merseyside Police said Hunter’s arrest had been a “joint operation”.
“We are committed to working with our partners to capture those that evade law enforcement and bring them to justice,” he said.
“We continue to support Elliot’s family.
“As they finally see justice being done for their tragic loss, we hope that the arrest of William Hunter brings them some comfort.”
Hunter was convicted and sentenced over the brutal murder in 2023, where he stabbed Elliot multiple times in the chest, back, arms and hands.
The two men had been living together when they’d gotten into an argument on April 6 in 2022.
Hunter later launched his savage attack, stabbing Elliot 24 times.
Elliot attempted to flee the luxury flat by jumping from the balcony, walking several metres across the garden before eventually collapsing.
Emergency services were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy of Elliot’s body found he had died from multiple incisive wounds.
