Crimewatch appeal: Couple related to murdered Stevenage man wanted by police

Thomas Ward was fatally shot five days after the birth of his daughter Lilly (Image: Archant)

Detectives investigating the murder of Thomas Ward, who was shot in the chest at a caravan site in Dyes Lane, Stevenage, want to speak to his second cousin John Boy Ward and his pregnant wife Joleen Josie Ward about his murder.

Thomas Ward with his daughter Lilly (Image: Archant)

The BBC One programme, which starts at 9pm, will recount the events on April 23 when police believe three men, who had their faces covered, attacked Thomas’ caravan while he was inside with his wife Theresa and five-day-old daughter Lilly.

Officers believe Thomas came out of the caravan and was shot, before being found by his family unconscious in undergrowth nearby at about 11.25pm.

Thomas was taken to Lister Hospital in Stevenage where he died.

A plea to trace 32-year-old John Boy Ward and 21-year-old Joleen, whose last known address was Clarkson Court in Hatfield, will be put out on Crimestoppers, as well as CCTV images of the couple and three cars which have been connected to the investigation.

The cars are a white Audi, which was displaying a cloned registration RV59 HSK, and was seen with a Volkswagon Golf 10 minutes before Thomas was shot.

Police are also searching for a black Mercedes C250 which they believe John Boy used to leave his home in Hatfield before driving to Barnet, in north London, during the early hours of April 24.

Detective chief inspector Sharn Basra from the Joint Major Crime Unit said: “We urgently need to trace both John Boy and Joleen. This is such a horrific crime and I would urge anyone who has any information on their whereabouts to contact us immediately.

“We believe the couple left the country in the days after the murder and may be in Europe. However, they do both have links to north London and I would appeal to anyone in the north London area who may have knowledge of their whereabouts to contact police.

“We have since recovered the white Audi but would appeal for anyone who saw this vehicle on the night of the murder, and any of the other vehicles mentioned since that evening to contact police.

“Those involved in Thomas’ murder should be brought to justice and I would urge anyone with any information which can assist our investigation to contact police or Crimestoppers immediately.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 01707 355666.

A reward of up to £5,000 is being offered by Crimestoppers for information as part of the investigation.

The reward will be given to anyone who provides the independent charity with information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons linked to the incident. You can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.