An on-the-run murderer who stabbed a British man to death at a luxury Portuguese apartment has been arrested after fleeing to hide out on Spain’s Costa Del Crime. William Hunter, 34, was snared by Guardia Civil officers in Alicante following a 17-month manhunt co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency. Portuguese authorities will now seek to extradite him over the border to serve a 16-year sentence for murdering his roommate Elliot Mulligan.

Mr Mulligan, from Liverpool, was aged just 22 when he was murdered in the grounds of an Albufeira apartment on the Algarve in April 2022. He was stabbed multiple times in the chest, back, arms and hands by Northern Irish-born Hunter. NCA international liaison officers coordinated the exchange of intelligence and information between law enforcement agencies to track down the fugitive.

And his arrest comes after months of extensive work between the NCA, Guardia Civil’s fugitive team, Portuguese Judicial Police and Merseyside Police.

Hunter was convicted of murder in May 2023, but lodged an appeal against the Portuguese court’s judgement. While waiting for the result of the appeal, he was released from custody on bail in April 2024 following the expiration of his maximum remand period.

He breached his court-imposed bail conditions and fled, sparking the major multi-agency manhunt that led to his arrest.

The killer remains in custody in Spain while extradition proceedings continue.

NCA Head of Europe 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.

“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.”

Merseyside Police Detective Superintendent Mark Drew 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.

“Merseyside Police is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners across the world. The exchange of intelligence and information across borders is vital in tracking down fugitives, and continues on a daily basis.”

Hunter is 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 2025.

A statement released by Portugal's Policia Judiciaria police said, without naming Hunter: "The alleged perpetrator of an armed robbery at a jewellery store in Esposende on January 21 this year was located and arrested in Alicante, Spain, with the Guardia Civil executing the European arrest warrant issued by the Court of Portimao, as part of close international judicial cooperation with counterparts in Spain and the United Kingdom.

"Following the events related to the jewellery store robbery, an investigation was launched by the PJ which culminated in the identification of the suspect, a foreign national who was believed to be in Spain.

"A European arrest warrant had been issued for him by the Portimao Court to serve a 16-year prison sentence he received for committing a homicide in the early hours of 25 April 2022 when he was with the victim at a holiday apartment complex in Albufeira.

"He has also been linked to other crimes of vehicle theft, document forgery and another robbery at a jewellery store, also in Esposende, on April 14 this year. The procedures for his extradition to Portugal and other steps related to the investigations will follow."

An inquest in Liverpool heard that Mr Mulligan had been staying with Hunter, then 31, at the Correeira Luxury Residence from April 6, 2022. In the early hours of April 25, the pair got into an argument and Hunter launched a vicious attack, stabbing Elliot approximately 24 times.

Elliot 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.

The victim’s mother Gina described her son's killer as "inhuman and evil", saying: "We attended the trial as a family facing the unknown of what may happen. We had to listen to Hunter testify, showing no feeling or remorse for the crime he had committed. As Portuguese law works very differently to the UK, there was only one court day every few weeks, which meant us travelling back and forth to Portugal as we were there to represent Elliot.

"At each court appearance Hunter again failed to show any remorse for his actions, looking out of windows, stretching, and yawning as if bored, denying any involvement in a crime he intentionally committed.

"He can only be described as inhuman and evil. There were times where he would maintain fixed eye contact with us."

At an inquest into Elliot's death in October 2023, a tribute from his mum was read aloud by coroner Andre Rebello. He said: "That night caused unimaginable trauma to the family. The events that followed were so devastating that Elliot's grandfather passed away only two weeks later.

"Elliot was a gentle soul. He loved to laugh, loved to party. His smile will never be forgotten. Life will never again be the same."

Mr Rebello handed down a conclusion of unlawful killing, telling Elliot's family: "The person responsible for his death cannot take the love you have given away from you, or the love you received from Elliot."