Who is Shane O’Brien? One of Britain’s most wanted men found guilty of Josh Hanson murder
SHANE O’Brien was Britain’s most wanted fugative after fleeting the country following a murder.
But who did he kill, where was he arrested, and what did his victim’s family say?
Who is Shane O’Brien?
Shane O’Brien, 31, has been found guilty murder of Josh Hanson in a London bar.
O’Brien was found guilty of murdering 21-year-old Josh in an act of “pitiless savagery” today after an international manhunt brought him to justice.
Josh was buying drinks when he was brutally stabbed in the neck in front of 40 shocked on-lookers at 1.15am on October 11.
O’Brien tried to claim he had felt threatened by Mr Hanson’s “very aggressive body language”, saying he felt the roads planner was “ready to attack me” and may have been armed.
At bar closing time, he approached Mr Hanson, asking him “what’s your problem?” before pulling the knife from a pocket of his expensive Canada Goose jacket and fatally slashing his victim.
O’Brien claimed he wanted only to “pretend to attack” Mr Hanson with the blade to “scare him”, adding: “From the bottom of my heart, I did not mean to touch him with that blade.”
But jurors saw through his lies and convicted him of murder after 55 minutes of deliberations.
Dad-of-two Shane headed the National Crime Agency’s most wanted list after fleeing arrest by being flown out of the country on a private plane from Biggin Hill airport following the unprovoked murder.
It is thought O’Brien fled to the Netherlands and later Dubai.
When was he arrested?
After an international manhunt O’Brien was finally arrested in Romania on March 23 this year and brought back to Britain on April 5.
He had fled Britain on a private jet in 2015 after calmly walking out of RE Bar in Hillingdon and arranging the flight to the Netherlands.
Police previously revealed that O’Brien was arrested for assault and criminal damage in the Czech Republic capital of Prague in February 2017.
But O’Brien, using the Italian alias of Enzo Mellonceli supported by false documentation, fled after being bailed before his real identity became known.
The 31-year-old grew his long hair and a beard and got the tattoo of his child’s name covered over as he used false identity documents to travel to countries including Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
After an international manhunt O’Brien was finally arrested in Romania on March 23 this year and brought back to Britain on April 5.
What did Josh Hanson’s parents say?
After the death of her son Josh, Tracey Hanson released a poignant statement appealing for anyone with information on O’ Brien’s whereabouts to come forward.
The grieving mother 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.”
Mrs Hanson went on: “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.
“Justice for the most heinous crime that my son had to endure and justice to ensure that innocent people are safe.
“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.
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“Please can you help us, Josh leaves behind a sister and a family who miss and love him very much.
“Take a moment to look around you and if you think you may have seen O’Brien please call the police.
“Someone has seen him and all it takes is that one phone call to help us get justice so we can grieve in peace.”
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