The fight to bring hero soldier Dan's case before courts

Efforts continue to locate man named as a suspect in the investigation into unlawful killing of paratrooper.

- NEAL KEELING

IT'S a case that will need international cooperation at the highest levels to be brought to a close.

A brave man from Wythenshawe was shot dead in Ukraine. He did not die in the theatre of war. He was allegedly killed by a 'comrade.

Ex-paratrooper Daniel Burke, 36, was attached to the 'Dark Angels' organisation, which rescued civilians when their homes became the frontline in the war with Russia.

On August 11 last year, he was killed.

Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes - an officer who has handled many high profile murder cases in Greater Manchester - has described how, through painstaking work, GMP helped repatriate Daniel's body; established how he died; and had been informed by authorities in Ukraine they had a named suspect.

But he is unable to investigate further as the force does not have territorial jurisdiction.

Chf Supt Hughes said: "I would love to launch a manhunt for this person. But it is not our job." At an inquest on Friday (December 13), coroner Zak Golombek reached a conclusion of unlawful killing. A pathologist gave a cause of death as 'multiple gunshot wounds! The court heard Daniel was hit in the head, neck and chest by bullets fired from an AKS74U assault rifle.

The inquest heard a 'suspect' known to Daniel was identified and briefly held by the Ukrainian authorities. He wasn't named at the inquest, but GMP previously said it had been informed by authorities in Ukraine they had a suspect in their investigation named Abdelfetah 'Adam' Nourine, also known as 'Jihadi Adam, an Australian Algerian dual national.

More than 350 people gathered for Daniel's funeral in March to acknowledge a fearless adventurer dedicated to helping those wronged, his mum said.