Spanish Civil Guard released images showing the arrest of William Hunter, a Briton who, in April 2022, killed his roommate, 22-year-old Elliot Mulligan, in an apartment in Albufeira, Algarve. Hunter is also suspected of several violent robberies, including on jewelry stores in Esposende, Braga district.
The British national had been on the run for 17 months. Besides robbery suspicions, he was under a European arrest warrant issued by the Portimão Court after being sentenced to 16 years for the murder of his friend.
The arrest was previously announced last week by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ), but today the Civil Guard provided further details.
Spanish authorities reported that Hunter was sentenced for the murder in May 2023 but appealed the verdict. While awaiting the appeal’s outcome, he was released on bail in April 2024 after exceeding the maximum limit of pre-trial detention.
At that time, he violated court-imposed restrictions and escaped, prompting a “massive manhunt” involving multiple police forces, which ended with his arrest on September 15 in Alicante, Spain.
To evade authorities while living in southern and southeastern Spain, Hunter received “logistical support from family and his criminal group,” using the “substantial British community” in those areas to hinder his detection, according to investigators.
The Civil Guard noted that his capture resulted from numerous attempts and the mobilization “of various police units.”
Hunter is currently detained in Spain as the extradition process to Portugal is underway.
Elliot Mulligan was killed with 24 stab wounds
The murder for which Hunter was convicted occurred in the early hours of April 25, 2022. Elliot Mulligan, from Croxteth, Liverpool, was killed with 24 stab wounds from a kitchen knife at a tourist apartment complex in Albufeira, where both he and Hunter were living.
According to reports at the time, Hunter was found by authorities at the crime scene “with blood and a knife in his hands.” He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The victim and the killer were said to be roommates and were on holiday in Algarve. The crime reportedly took place during a disagreement following a “night of revelry” in the Algarve city.
‘History’ of multiple crimes
Besides the murder conviction, Hunter is suspected of other violent crimes, such as armed robberies of jewelry stores in Esposende and in the UK, where his criminal activities have gained significant media attention.
In addition to photos released by the Civil Guard, the National Crime Agency (NCA) also shared a video of Hunter’s arrest, viewable below:
A man who stabbed a British national to death in Portugal, has been arrested in Spain following an intensive NCA coordinated manhunt.
Read the full story ️ https://t.co/dN7Nfac5gl pic.twitter.com/yNFpNlZW9u
— National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) September 25, 2025
