26 September 2024 , 10:27
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One of Britain’s most wanted fugitives who has been on the run for 20 years may be living in the Australian outback.
Kevin Parle is alleged to have murdered 22-year-old Lucy Hargreaves in Liverpool in 2005, before setting her body on fire while her three children slept upstairs.
He is also the prime suspect in the murder of 16-year-old Liam Kelly, who was shot dead in the city in 2004.
Parle was arrested in connection with Kelly’s murder but fled when he was released on bail, sparking a global manhunt.
Parle is alleged to have killed mum-of-three Lucy Hargreaves in 2005 before fleeing the country (Picture: Liverpool Echo)
For two decades nobody has known anything about Parle’s whereabouts- but new leads may finally shed light on his location.
Evidence uncovered by the West Australian newspaper has suggested that Parle, who would now be in his 40s, had a relative who owned a stud farm in the outback.
Although the exact location of the farm remains unknown, it is believed Parle may have been using it as a hideout.
The West Australian’s report also suggested that Parle has spent time in the outback and may have even have been spotted in Perth’s northern suburbs.
Images released by Merseyside Police that show age progression pictures of Parle (Picture: PA)
In 2016, both Australian Federal Police and Merseyside detectives said they had credible information that Parle was in the country.
Former Scotland Yard police detective Peter Bleksley, who has spent the past five years hunting Parle, previously said he had a ‘raft’ of evidence pointing to the fugitive’s whereabouts.
In an interview on This Morning, Mr Blekesly said: ‘There are certain bosses within Merseyside Police that choose to believe the convenient rumour that Kevin Parle is dead, whilst not producing one shred of evidence to support that.
‘And I’ve spoken to the man who’s responsible for spreading that rumour, four days after he got out of prison.’
He added: ‘I have a considerable amount of evidence that categorically states that he is alive.’
Lucy Hargreaves was shot three times as she slept on the sofa in her home in Merseyside in 2005, with her boyfriend Gary Campbell thought to have been the intended target.
Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley says he has ‘no doubt’ that Parle is still alive (Picture: ITV/REX
Campbell, who was sleeping upstairs with his daughter at the time, escaped the blaze by leaping from an upstairs window with his daughter, before rushing back inside to pull Lucy’s body out.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Baker said, when a fresh appeal was launched in 2018: ‘Lucy’s murder remains one of the most brutal crimes we have ever seen on Merseyside.
‘That night, after Lucy was shot, the offender poured petrol around the living room and hallway, before setting fire to the house.
‘We believe the offenders would have been in no doubt they were killing a young woman. Their callous actions would have claimed the lives of two more people that night had Gary, her partner, not escaped the flames by jumping with his daughter.
‘We are continually determined to bring Lucy Hargreaves’ killers to justice and are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.
‘Lucy was an innocent victim and this year she should be celebrating her 35th birthday with her family – instead they have been robbed of a loving mother and daughter.’