The hunt to find a man wanted in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old from Kingsbury has gone worldwide through the power of social media.
Three-and-a-half months on since Josh Hanson was killed his death has been kept at the forefront of news on websites such as Facebook and Twitter through a drive by his devastated family.
Mr Hanson, a road planner, died after he was brutally attacked inside the RE bar in Eastcote on October 11.
Days after the murder, 27-year-old Shane O’Brien was named by police as a suspect and a £10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
Tracey Hanson, 51, and 25-year-old Brooke, Mr Hanson’s grieving mother and sister, have launched a Justice for Josh Facebook page which has more than 26,000 likes and includes daily appeals for information.
Ms Hanson told the Times: “I’m not going away.
“I will keep the momentum up to assist the police in their endeavours to arrest Shane O’Brien.
“I will keep going until my last breath. I won’t let Josh down.”
A poster campaign has resulted in O’Brien’s face being plastered in the UK, Ireland, Europe and other countries all over the world thanks to people putting up appeals while abroad.
“The public have been amazing,” Ms Hanson said.
“We have had posters put up in lots of countries including Australia, Cambodia, Greece and Spain. I am humbled by the support they have shown me.
“I am not going to let Josh down I never did when he was with me and I won’t now he’s not here.”
Mr Hanson’s family are selling T-shirts, keyrings and wristbands with his image with the proceeds going to an anti-knife crime charity which be established in his name.
Ms Hanson said: “I refuse to go down the path of anger or hatred that’s not the way we are as a family.
“I refuse to become negative as Joshua’s life was very important to me. “Having him for 21 years was a blessing. He should have had four times that amount but in his memory I will strive to continue to go forward and help others and make a change.”
Appealing to anyone who knows of O’Brien’s whereabouts she added: “Hopefully someone who knows something will come forward.
“Now matter how irrelevant or how long they have had this information if they are asking themselves should they say something that means they should.”
Detectives believe O’Brien, who lived in Ladbroke Grove and has links to the Ruislip area, could be hiding anywhere in the country but he may have fled abroad.
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, who is leading the murder hunt, added: ““I would appeal directly to O’Brien to contact us, or ask that anyone who has seen him or who knows where he is to contact us as well. I do believe someone out there will know where he is.”
Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8785 8099 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
To download an appeal poster visit here.
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