Kentish Express Ashford & District
Who went shopping
A cold-blooded murderer who went shopping at Ashford Designer Outlet shortly after slashing a man’s throat has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 26 years..
The killing of 21-year-old Josh Hanson by Shane O’Brien, 31, was described as grotesque. Shortly after the attack he was caught shopping at the centre on CCTV.
The unprovoked attack happened at a bar in London.
For the next three-and-a-half years he was one of the world’s most wanted men as he chartered a private jet from Biggin Hill Airport and went on the run. He was later found and arrested in Romania.
O’Brien was found guilty of the murder at the RE bar in Eastcote in 2015 earlier this month after a trial at the Old Bailey.
The jury took just 55 minutes to convict O’Brien who is originally from Ladbroke Grove, in West London.
Josh, who was from Kingsbury, was on a night out with friends when the attack happened.
Speaking after the sentencing last week, Josh’s mum Tracey Hanson, said: “I have no words that come close to describing the constant ache that consumes my every waking day but we will forever be truly grateful to everybody who helped bring Josh’s killer to justice, after four long, painful years.
“This has been an unimaginably difficult journey, and, along with the police, we would like to give special thanks to friends, family and the general public, who helped us through our darkest hours, with messages of support and practical help in sharing Josh’s story far and wide.
“Whilst justice has been done, the injustice is Brooke and I have been sentenced to a life sentence without our beautiful Josh.”
Det Ch Insp Noel McHugh, who led the investigation, said: “Today’s lengthy sentence is fitting for such a brutal and unprovoked attack.
“O’Brien will be 57 before he can be considered for release, the best part of his life spent behind bars. It also shows no one is untouchable despite their connections and background - O’Brien thought he could evade justice with the help of his ‘associates’ but he was wrong.
“It is only now, upon sentence, that it’s sinking in for myself, my investigation team and Josh’s family that O’Brien has finally been caught and convicted and will be off the streets, away from society, for a very long time.
‘O’Brien thought he could evade justice with the help of his ‘associates’ but he was wrong’
“He is an extremely dangerous individual who murdered a young man in the prime of his life in a packed bar for no reason whatsoever.
“O’Brien’s five seconds of incomprehensible violence have left a lifetime of misery for Josh’s family.
“Well supported by his associates, O’Brien fled the country in a private plane – those people then helped him with funds, false documentation and accommodation during a three-and-ahalf year manhunt.”