POLICE have named a 16-year-old boy as a prime suspect in the murder of schoolboy Giuseppe Gregory.

Huge pictures of Moses Mathias were beamed on to the walls of a building outside Piccadilly Station and on a big screen in Piccadilly Gardens in an unprecedented move by detectives.

A £15,000 reward has also been offered to help find Mathias.

Police want to speak to him about the murder of Giuseppe, who was gunned down outside a pub in Stretford.


Detectives hunting the gunman who shot Giuseppe have been trying to track Mathias for four months and have gone public with the electronic wanted 'poster' after their efforts drew a blank.

It is the first time Greater Manchester Police have named a juvenile as a suspect in a major crime.

Mathias, who has a distinctive tattoo on his left arm, has family in south Manchester, but police believe he may have used gang connections to flee to the Birmingham area.

Officers do not think he has gone abroad but do not know if he is still in the West Midlands.

Warning

Detectives have warned the public not to approach him if they know his whereabouts.

Mathias is suspected of murdering Giuseppe, 16, from Ardwick, who was blasted in the head as he sat in a VW Golf in the car park of the Robin Hood pub in Stretford in May.

At the time of the shooting, Mathias was just 15.

Police say Giuseppe may not have been the intended target of the shooting.

The M.E.N. previously revealed that Giuseppe's mother had been sent a letter by police last November warning his life was at risk from gangs - but it is understood she insists he was not a gang member.

Det Supt Paul Rumney, who is leading the investigation, appealed for help from the public to bring Giuseppe's killer to justice.

He directly appealed to anyone - including family members - who may be harbouring Mathias to come forward.

Det Supt Rumney said: "He is a very strong suspect, a compelling suspect.

"We have decided we need to raise his profile, it is possible there are gangs who may be giving him some support, or from distant family members, we do not know, no one is talking about it.

"I believe he is dangerous, our advice is ring the numbers we have provided if you have any information. My message to him is: Hand yourself in.

"We are offering the reward to anyone who can tell us where he is staying - that's all you need to do. We feel we have questions he needs to answer but he will have representation, if he can provide evidence to the contrary we will listen and explore it.

I believe he is dangerous, our advice is ring the numbers we have provided if you have any information. My message to him is: Hand yourself in

Det Supt Paul Rumney

"Giuseppe's murder left his family and friends absolutely devastated and we will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice."

Officers say anyone who comes forward will not be required to give evidence in court to collect the reward - they simply need to tell detectives where he is.

Anyone with information should call 0161 856 2446/ 0800 092 0410, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A 17-year-old youth has been charged with murder and four counts of attempted murder over Giuseppi's death.

Four men have been charged with a range of offences in connection with his murder.

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