‘Britain’s most wanted man’ convicted of murder after three-year international manhunt

Shane O’Brien slashed Josh Hanon’s neck in 2015 before fleeing country

One of Britain’s most wanted fugitives has been convicted of murdering a man in a bar, after a three-and-a-half-year international manhunt.

Shane O’Brien cut Josh Hanon’s neck at RE Bar in Hillingdon on 11 October 2015.

He had approached the roads planner at closing time and asked “what’s your problem?” before pulling a knife out.

The 21-year-old victim was left with a 37cm wound which ran from his left ear to his right chest.

O’Brien left the bar and was helped by a friend, known only as “Vanessa”, to flee the country.

The friend helped him secure a place on a private four-seat plane, which flew him from Biggin Hill airport to the Netherlands.

O’Brien used false identity documents to travel to a string of countries, including Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic.

He was later added to both Europol and Interpol’s most wanted lists.

The 31-year-old was arrested in Prague in 2017 for assault but managed to avoid detection by using the alias Enzo Melloncelli and fleeing when he was released on bail.

He was arrested in Romania on 23 March and returned to the UK on 5 April.

During the murder trial he told jurors he had felt threatened by Mr Hanson’s “aggressive body language.”

He then claimed he meant to “pretend to attack” the 21-year-old, to “scare him.”

“From the bottom of my heart, I did not mean to touch him with that blade,” he said.

A jury took 55 minutes to find him guilty of murder.

The 31-year-old showed no emotion as the verdict was read.

He will be sentenced on 17 October.

Additional reporting by agencies