Murder suspect 'now in England'

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A key suspect in the knife murder of a Northern Ireland pensioner is now in England, police have said.

Norman Moffatt, 73, was stabbed near his home in Coleraine, County Londonderry while out buying a morning paper six years ago.

Inspector Nigel Kyle urged any relatives who may be shielding the killer to break their silence.

He said even though no-one has been charged with the murder they have received vital new information.

He said he wanted the killer to realise "we are still on his trail, and still receiving information that is bringing us ever closer to the point where we will achieve a positive outcome".

"While the murderer may not have a conscience I am sure that his family andhis friends do," he said.

"Quite how they can remain silent when they know the person who killed a73-year-old man in cold blood is beyond me, even if he is a very closerelative.

"To seek to protect a family member after one murder is shameful in itself,but how will the murderer's parent, his brother or sister or those who seek toprotect him feel if they allow him to remain at large, and he kills again?"

Mr Moffatt was attacked on January 26, 2001 as he returned from his local shop after buying the morning paper.

His wife Nan and their daughter were asleep as he lay bleeding on the road.

The pensioner never recovered, and weeks later died in hospital.

CCTV footage captured a man appear to bump into Mr Moffat that morning, but in fact launch the knife attack.

The incident happened near his home in Coleraine

Police said Mr Moffat was the victim of a mistaken identity.

The murderer planned to attack a paedophile living in the area but got the wrong man.

Several arrests were made as part of the investigation, which drew amassive response when featured on the BBC's Crimewatch programme last year.

A follow-up appeal on the programme is now under consideration.

Mr Kyle insisted every person they have eliminated from their probe has drawn his team closer to the killer.

Inquiries have now widened from the Coleraine and north Antrim areas, hesaid.

"New information received by police has led detectives to England, but wewill make sure we have a water-tight case before we get to the aspect of makingarrests."

Mr Kyle also urged two people standing at a phone box near the scene of theattack to contact police, or else face becoming suspects.

"I know they have vital information. I can't understand why they wouldn'tcome forward unless they are trying to shield the person involved."