Murderer believed to from NI caught in tourist hotspot after evading police for 17 months

William Hunter stabbed Elliot Mulligan 24 times after an argument

A convicted murdered believed to be from Northern Ireland who stabbed his roommate to death at a popular tourist hotspot and evaded officers for 17 months has been extradited after a huge European manhunt.

William Hunter murdered his roommate, Elliot Mulligan, 22, in Albufeira, Portugal, in April 2022, stabbing him 24 times after an argument. Mr Mulligan managed to escape the apartment but collapsed and died shortly after.

Hunter was handed a 16-year prison sentence in 2023 before lodging an appeal against the Portuguese court’s judgment and was released on bail in April 2024 while awaiting the outcome following the expiration of his maximum remand period, the Liverpool Echo reports.

He had fled the country despite a warning from his victim’s mum, Gina, stating: “He will be out and, with nothing to lose, free to commit more potentially hideous crimes.”

Guardia Civil officers in Alicante, Spain, arrested Hunter, now 34, on September 15 in a coordinated operation alongside the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), Portuguese Judicial Police, and Merseyside Police.

Hunter, who was detained in Spain after being captured by officers, was handed back to Portuguese authorities on Thursday (November 13) to begin his prison sentence.

“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,” said Gill Duggan, of the NCA.

“Our pursuit of Hunter was relentless, driven by a deep commitment to securing justice for those who love Elliot.

“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.”

A video, released by the NCA, shows the moment the killer is arrested, with officers honing in on a luxury apartment complex before jumping to doorbell footage showing Hunter leaving with a suitcase and a black bag.

Twelve seconds into the clip, Hunter, who moved to West Derby, Liverpool, is seen face down on the floor surrounded by undercover police officers before being handcuffed and helped up off the ground.

Hunter is also expected to face charges over other crimes, including an armed robbery at a jeweller’s in the northern Portuguese city of Esposende at the start of the year.

Mr Mulligan had been staying with Hunter, then 31, at the Correeira Luxury Residence from April 6, 2022, an inquest in Liverpool heard.

In the early hours of April 25, the pair got into an argument and Hunter launched a vicious attack, stabbing Mr Mulligan approximately 24 times.

Mr Mulligan managed to escape the flat by jumping from a balcony and walked several metres across the garden before collapsing. Emergency services were alerted just after 6.30am, and pronounced him dead at the scene a short time later.

His mum described him as “a free spirit, adored by his mum, sisters and niece. He was loved beyond words by his close family and many friends. Elliot lived in the moment and embraced life with positivity, a lover, not a fighter, with a heart of gold.

“He was a peacekeeper who would never look for aggravation. His smile would light up a room and his laugh will never be forgotten. He was a loyal, kind and gentle soul. The devastation of losing him is something we cannot comprehend.”