Police launch urgent hunt for suspect, 42, wanted in connection with the murder of a line dancing pensioner and his missing wife amid fears he has fled to France 

Police are anxious to trace Ali Qazimaj (pictured) in connection with the murder of a pensioner and the disappearance of his wife

A manhunt is underway to find a 42-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of a pensioner and his missing wife amid fears the suspect has fled to France. 

Police are anxious to trace Ali Qazimaj after discovering his car in Dover, Kent.

He has been described by Suffolk Police as a 'key person' they want to speak to in connection with the murder of Peter Stuart, 75, and disappearance of his wife Sylvia.

The body of Mr Stuart was discovered in an area of woodland on Friday evening only 50ft away from the isolated house he shared with his wife.

Police are still searching for Mrs Stuart but there are growing fears that the 69-year-old has come to harm.

The couple, who were keen line dancers, went missing following a family gathering on May 28 at their home in Weybread, Suffolk.

A 61-year-old man from Leicester who has not been named was arrested on Sunday morning on suspicion of murder and is still in police custody. 

A Suffolk Police statement said today that Mr Qazimaj, who had been living in the Thurrock area of Essex, was 'identified as a suspect' on Sunday afternoon.

It added: 'Work done over the course of yesterday (Sunday) evening confirmed Ali Qazimaj as a key person that police need to trace in connection with the enquiry.'

The statement said that Mr Qazimaj's car - a silver Citroen C3 - was located in a residential area of Dover 'around midnight Sunday into today.'

It added: 'This vehicle has been searched in the hope of finding Sylvia and has been recovered for forensic examination. Enquiries to locate Mr Qazimaj continue.'

Mr Qazimaj is described as white, around 5ft 6ins tall, with brown eyes and dark brown greying hair. He was last seen on Friday last week in Essex.

Police have issued a picture of him and are urging members of the public not to approach him but dial 999 if they see him. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Parkes, who is heading the investigation, said: 'This remains a fast moving investigation and our priority continues to be to trace Sylvia.

'With this in mind we are keen to speak to Ali Qazimaj. Officers are working to locate him and we would ask anyone with information about where he is to get in contact with police as a matter of urgency.' 

Peter Stuart, 75, left, was found dead on Friday evening by officers hunting for him and wife Sylvia, right

Family: The couple's daughter Christy with her husband, dog breeder Steve Paxman

Police were called last Friday after a relative reported them missing from their red-brick detached house, pointing out that their car was still parked on the drive.

Teams of officers with sniffer dogs searched the couple’s home after Mr Stuart’s body was discovered in a copse yards from his home that night at 7.15pm. 

Yesterday detective chief superintendent Simon Parkes, of Suffolk Police, said: ‘Our concern now is for the safety of Sylvia. We are still hopeful we can find her and piece together what happened and who is responsible.’

Mr Parkes said police were investigating possible motives, but declined to reveal whether there was any sign of a break-in or a struggle at the house.

However last night neighbours revealed that they had witnessed the family having blazing rows. 

Mr Stuart had bought his cottage along with a three-bedroom property next door for £250,000 from retired builder Alan Hall, 82. 

He renovated the cottage for himself and his wife, while his daughter Christy and her partner Steve Paxman – who ran a dog-breeding business – moved into the three-bedroom house with their girl, now aged 11.

Mr Stuart was found in woodland around 50ft from their isolated home. Pictured, forensic officers at the scene

Yesterday Mr Hall, who sold Mr Stuart, 61, the two properties, recalled: ‘I was selling the two houses as one property with two acres of land. I think the daughter wanted to come to the countryside with them so her boyfriend Steve, who then became her husband, could breed dogs. Steve was a nice bloke. I remember him well.’

Mr Paxman, who specialised in breeding Alsatian dogs, spent more than £30,000 installing heated kennels at the back of the house.

But last year he moved his family to Leicester, where Mrs Paxman got a job as an administrator at a secondary school.

And six months ago, the older couple’s cottage was sold for around £500,000 and Mr and Mrs Stuart moved in to the house where their 41-year-old daughter had previously lived.

Last night Mr Hall explained: ‘I don’t know why they moved up north.

‘It is quite possibly because they had a row...[Mr Stuart] was an arrogant b*****.’ He added: ‘What really put me off was the last time he came round before I sold the property. His wife Sylvia was little and feeble and just said something which offended him.

Teams of forensic specialists and officers with dogs were yesterday searching the couple’s home

Police are now concerned over the safety of Sylvia, who is still missing. Pictured, officers at the scene 

‘He went absolutely berserk and I thought he was going to thump her. He was shouting, “it’s nothing to do with you” and was effing and blinding at her. I had to jump in between them so nothing happened. It was unbelievable. He lost his temper as quick as a flash.’

Mr Hall went on to say: ‘As they left, I told her I hoped everything would work out. I told her, “I feel really sorry for you having to live with that b****** for the rest of your life.” She just shrugged.

‘She was definitely under his thumb. The last time I saw him he was swearing at her and I thought he was going to thump her. He would have knocked her to the ground.’

Mr and Mrs Stuart, who were married for 48 years, belonged to three local line dancing clubs, including one run by Karen Poll. Yesterday Mrs Poll said she last saw the couple on Thursday May 26. She said: ‘They seemed fine. They were private. They enjoyed dancing, they always came as a couple.’

• Last night detectives working on the case were questioning a 61-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder, who was due to stay in police custody overnight. But yesterday a police spokesman insisted: ‘While we have made an arrest, our investigation continues.’