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Suffolk murder police launch manhunt and release image of suspect Suffolk murder police launch manhunt and release image of suspect
(about 2 hours later)
Police investigating the murder of a man in Suffolk and the disappearance of his wife have released an image of a man they want to trace after his car was found abandoned in Dover. Police investigating the murder of a man stabbed to death in Suffolk and the disappearance of his wife have released an image of a man they want to trace after his car was found abandoned in Dover.
On Friday, a man’s body, believed to be Peter Stuart, 75, was found after he and his wife, Sylvia, 69, from Weybread, Suffolk, were reported missing. On Friday, a man’s body, believed to be Peter Stuart, 75, was found after he and his wife, Sylvia, 69, from Weybread in Suffolk, were reported missing.
Suffolk police released details about Ali Qazimaj, whom they describe as “a key person that police need to trace” as they continue to hunt for Sylvia Stuart. A postmortem examination of the body, which has not been formally identified, confirmed the man died as a result of multiple stab wounds.
Launching the appeal, Det Ch Supt Simon Parkes said: “This remains a fast-moving investigation and our priority continues to be to trace Sylvia. Police officers continue to search for the murder weapon in woodland near the couple’s secluded house.
Suffolk police released details about Ali Qazimaj, whom they believe to be from the former Yugoslavia and describe as “a key person that police need to trace” as they continue to hunt for Sylvia Stuart.
Launching the appeal, Det Ch Supt Simon Parkes said: “Our priority continues to be to trace Sylvia.
“With this in mind we are keen to speak to Ali Qazimaj. Officers are working to locate him and we would ask anyone with information about where he is to get in contact with police as a matter of urgency.”“With this in mind we are keen to speak to Ali Qazimaj. Officers are working to locate him and we would ask anyone with information about where he is to get in contact with police as a matter of urgency.”
Qazimaj, 42, is described as white, about 5ft 6in tall, with brown eyes and dark brown greying hair. He was last seen on Friday, in Essex. Police have been hunting for him since midnight on Sunday. His car, a Citroen C3, is being forensically examined for traces of Sylvia Stuart. Qazimaj is from Thurrock in Essex, near where the Stuarts lived before retiring to rural Suffolk about 10 years ago. Parkes refused to give details of Qazimaj’s link to the family. “I don’t believe it was a strong connection, but we are actively exploring it,” he told reporters.
Police have warned the public not to approach Qazimaj, but to call 999 immediately if they see him. Anyone with information can contact Suffolk police through its incident room on 01473 782000. “We believe [Qazimaj] is from the former Yugoslavia and we are trying to understand the full details of his nationality.”
A 61-year-old man arrested on Sunday 5 June, remains in custody as inquiries continue. Dozens of officers searched woodland near where the couple lived. Parkes conceded that Qazimaj could have fled to France. He said: “We are exploring all possibilities. Clearly the presence of his car in Dover gives us that line of inquiry. Equally, we can’t dismiss the fact that he could be in Dover or Kent or further afield.”
Authorities are awaiting the results of a postmortem of the body, which has not yet been formally identified. Asked if Qazimaj was dangerous, Parkes said: “Clearly, we believe he was responsible for a murder, so there is some risk.” He added that police were still looking for “the bladed weapon” that was used to kill Stuart.
The couple’s daughter Christy and their granddaughter, who had lived next door until moving away last year, were being supported by specially trained officers.
A 61-year-old man arrested on Sunday 5 June remains in custody as inquiries continue.
Qazimaj, 42, is described as white, about 5ft 6in tall, with brown eyes and dark brown greying hair. He was last seen on Friday in Essex. Police have been hunting for him since midnight on Sunday. His car, a Citroën C3, is being forensically examined for traces of Sylvia Stuart.
Neighbours described Peter Stuart as a friendly and domineering figure in contrast to his shy wife.
Steve Pickess, who runs a caravan site near the Stuart’s home, said he used to chat to Stuart on his daily walk around the village, but rarely saw the rest of the family.
He said: “They were down the lane in a dip and quite isolated, so we didn’t see much of them. I only saw the daughter two or three times.
“But I often talked to him [Peter Stuart]. I used to walk past his [property], and about 10 or 15 minutes I’d come back. Then he would quite often be there just to have a chat. I just assumed he was pretty bored. He’d moved out of Essex, down a little country lane and it’s a different pace of life.
“In all our conversations he was always asking me questions. It was all one way. That was the sought of guy he was. He was on the verge of being nosy.”
Pickess said he did not know Sylvia Stuart. “She never said a word. She is just a quiet woman. He was the boss of the family. He was quite dominant. He did all the talking.”
The Stuarts were keen dancers and were members of several line-dancing clubs in the area. “They did a lot of dancing,” Pickess said.
Karen Poll, of Still Dancing Linedance Club, told the East Anglian Daily Times the couple were “very friendly, quiet and private people.”
She added: “They have been coming to our club for eight or nine years and to many others in the area for a similar amount of time. It is a real shock to the line-dancing community. They really enjoyed their line dancing. I hope they find Sylvia.”
Police have warned the public not to approach Qazimaj, but to call 999 immediately if they see him. Anyone with information can contact Suffolk police through their incident room on 01473 782000.