This is the moment a convicted killer who stabbed his flatmate to death before fleeing to southern Spain was dramatically arrested.
Footage shared by the Guardia Civil shows William Hunter, 34, leaving a property in Alicante with his suitcases before being tackled to the ground by a team of police officers.
In a frenzied attack, Hunter stabbed 22-year-old Elliot Mulligan a total of 24 times inside the apartment they shared in Albufeira, Portugal, in April 2022.
He was handed a 16-year prison sentence in 2023, but his legal team launched an appeal and he was released on bail in April 2024 while awaiting the outcome.
This allowed him to flee to southern Spain, where he hid out among the expat community on the Costa del Sol, before at some point moving up to the Costa Blanca, spending a total of 17 months on the run.
Portugal will seek the killer’s extradition so that he can serve the remainder of his jail sentence.
The operation began when the NCA alerted Spanish authorities to the possible presence of the suspect in Spain, where he had apparently been hiding to evade justice.
A violent murder in Portugal
The case dates back to April 2022, when Hunter was living in a rented flat in Portugal’s Algarve region, sharing the apartment with Liverpudlian Mulligan.
During a violent altercation, Hunter stabbed the victim 24 times with a kitchen knife.
Despite trying to fight back and even attempting to escape through the apartment window, Mulligan died shortly after from the severity of the wounds.
During the investigation, officers also discovered narcotics hidden inside the flat, suggesting links to organised crime.
Hunter managed to flee Portugal during the early stages of legal proceedings, exploiting the circumstances of the case and disappearing entirely.
Hiding in plain sight in Spain
The Guardia Civil said in a press release: ‘He is believed to have spent the past two years moving between Malaga and Alicante, using Spain’s large British expat population in both areas to help conceal his presence.
‘He successfully evaded several police operations, including one in which he reportedly attempted to run over officers to avoid arrest.
‘Investigators say he had strong logistical support from both his family and criminal associates, who provided temporary accommodation and financial assistance to keep him off the radar.’
The force added: ‘Nevertheless, through coordinated efforts between Spanish, Portuguese and British authorities, the suspect was finally tracked to Alicante.
‘He was arrested while attempting to leave his temporary residence, and is now in pre-trial detention awaiting extradition to Portugal, as ordered by Spain’s Central Investigating Court on duty.’
Cross-border law enforcement collaboration
The investigation was led by the Guardia Civil’s Central Operative Unit (UCO) and the Judicial Police Unit in Málaga, in coordination with the UK’s NCA and Braga’s Judicial Police in Portugal.
The arrest itself was carried out by officers from the UCO’s Fugitive Tracking Team and the Organised Crime Unit (Levante Division).
Gill Duggan, of the NCA, 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.
‘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.’
Det Supt Mark Drew, of Merseyside Police, said: ‘The arrest of William Hunter was part of a joint operation between Merseyside Police, NCA, Guardia Civil’s fugitive team and Portuguese Judicial Police.
‘We are committed to working with our partners to capture those that evade law enforcement and bring them to justice. We will continue to support Elliot’s family.
‘As they finally see justice being done after their tragic loss, we hope that the arrest of William Hunter brings them some comfort.’
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
