LATEST UPDATE: Police reveal Ali Qazimaj alias has hunt for Peter Stuart’s murderer continues

Published: 10:22, 08 June 2016

Suffolk Police want to trace Ali Qazimaj as investigations into a Weybread couple's disappearance continue. ANL-160606-092704001

The man at the centre of the Peter Stuart murder case uses the alias Marco Costa police have revealed this morning, Wednesday June 8.

Ali Qazimaj, a 42-year-old man who has been living in the Tilbury area of Essex, remains the key man police want to trace following the disappearance of Sylvia and Peter Stuart of Mill Lane in Weybread, who were reported missing on Friday June 3.

Enquiries in the area led to the discovery of the body of Peter in woodland surrounding the property later that evening. A post mortem investigation into the death confirmed that he had died from multiple stab wounds. Sylvia remains missing and the investigation continues to find her.

Yesterday it was confirmed that police have received reliable information which places Qazimaj at the Port of Dover Ferry Terminal at around 6:30pm on Saturday 4 June.

It is strongly believed that he then boarded a passenger ferry unaccompanied to Calais in France soon after 7pm. Enquiries nationally and internationally continue to locate him.

Today, Wednesday 8 June, officers are asking for information to help them understand more about Qazimaj.

Police officers in forensic gear carrying out finger tip searches in woodland behind Peter and Sylvia Stuart's house. Around 20 officers were seen ??meticulously searching the undergrowth just metres away from where Mr Stuart's body was found at 7.15pm on Friday. See MASONS story MNMURDER. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a pensioner whose body was found dumped in woods on Friday (3/6). The 61-year-old from Leicester was arrested at around 8.30am yesterday (sun). This came as police continued to carry out fingertip searches of the woods behind the couple's house in Weybread, Suffolk. Around 20 officers wearing forensic clothing were seen ripping up grass and thoroughly searching the undergrowth just metres from where Mr Stuart's body was found at 7.15pm on Friday. A post mortem on his body was due to take place yesterday (sun). The man was arrested in Leicester and was due to be brought back to Suffolk for questioning yesterday (sun). The search continues for Sylvia Steuart who hasn'

Officers now know he uses the alias Marco Costa. It is believed he came to the UK following the conflict in Yugoslavia.

Police attended his home address in Tilbury on Sunday evening searching for him and Sylvia Stuart.

As part of extensive work to locate him, around midnight Sunday 5 June, his car – a silver Citroen C3 – was located in Athol Terrace in Dover, Kent.

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Parkes said: “We strongly believe that finding Ali Qazimaj will help us in locating Sylvia, who has now not been seen for nearly 10 days.

“We know that he was living in Tilbury in Essex and that he has been working in Purfleet as a forklift driver. We believe he is from Kosovo, that he sought asylum following the conflict and was granted this and given a British passport. We also know he has used the name Marco Costa.

“Our enquiries continue to learn more about his roots and his links within the UK and overseas. We urgently need anyone who knows him, who may have spent time with him over the last few weeks or before this to get in touch and tell us more about his background so that we can trace his movements.

“We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen him between Sunday 29 May and when he left the country on Saturday 4 June, or anyone who can shed light on where he may have been between these times.”

Mr Qazimaj is described as white, around 5ft 6ins tall, with brown eyes and dark brown greying hair.

CCTV enquiries have now placed Sylvia and Peter Stuart at Goodies Farm Shop on Wood Lane in Pulham Market at 10:18am on Sunday May 29 and footage has been released. Officers are also appealing for anyone who may have seen them or who has information regarding their whereabouts from this time until Friday June 3 to get in touch.

Police are urging that you should not approach Qazimaj but if you see him please call 999 immediately. Anyone with information can contact Suffolk Police through the incident room on 01473 782000.

A man arrested in connection with the murder of Peter Stuart, his son-in-law Steve Paxman, has been released on police bail.

The 61-year-old from Leicester was arrested by officers at around 8.30am on Sunday June 5 and was bailed on Monday June 6. He is due to return to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre on Wednesday August 3.

Click here for more about the Weybread murder investigation

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