Detectives hunting the killer of an Albanian man who was stabbed in a Southend street were today (Thursday) close to recovering the murder weapon.

Officers have been searching an undisclosed site after receiving a tip-off following an appeal for information in the Echo.

It comes in the same week that the Echo teamed up with police to distribute posters featuring appeals in English and Albanian and a picture of murder victim Pal Ton Qerimi in a bid to get witnesses to come forward.

Det Supt Ian McNeill, who is leading the hunt for the killer, said today he believed the net was closing on the suspects.

He added: "We are confident we will find the people responsible."

Mr Qerimi, who was 32 and died from a single stab wound to the chest, was attacked at the junction of York Road and St Leonard's Road in Southend at about 4pm on April 27.

Detectives are not ruling out any leads but believe the killer could have come from a similar cultural background as the victim. Mr McNeill said: "Search teams have been deployed following the tip-off. We hope to recover the murder weapon soon."

Officers travelled to Kosovo and Albania during their investigation in a bid to uncover the identity of Mr Qerimi.

They have also carried out extensive investigations among the Albanian communities in London and Eastbourne, where they believe the suspect or suspects could be staying.

But Mr McNeill said they had faced a series of obstacles in the bid to find the killer.

He said: "There is a real fear among many immigrants, who may be illegally here, to come forward because they are afraid for their status. If they come forward and answer questions they fear they may be deported."

Anyone with information can call the incident room on 01268 775588 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Help catch the killer - PC Mark Glassock puts up one of the posters which police hope will trace new witnesses

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Witnesses still sought

Detectives are still keen to speak to a number of key witnesses in the hunt for the killer of Pal Ton Qerimi.

Those the police want to speak to include a woman pushing a pushchair in Albert Road; an Italian-looking man aged between 45 and 50 who was short, balding with dark brown hair and a hooked nose. He was heard to tell on-lookers that he had seen the entire incident.

Police also want to speak to a man seen running from the bottom of Albert Road into Stanley Road towards the seafront.

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