PICTURED:

MURDER victim John Haselden

POLICE need to talk to a mystery woman seen at a pizza takeaway with murder victim John Haselden as they fill in the gaps on the last movements of the 23 year old car dealer from Newton who was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head on Monday, December 1.

Detective Superintendent Jack Leyland confirmed that the victim, who was left at Whiston Hospital car park just before 11.40pm, entered the Pizza Heaven take-away shop on Higher Parr Street, Fingerpost, at about 11.10pm with a female companion.

He said: "The couple remained in the shop for several minutes whilst their food was prepared and then left, turning to the right of the shop doorway. Mr Haselden was described as carrying some car keys."

The woman is white, in her early 20s, slim and about the same height as Mr Haselden who was about 5ft 8ins. She had mousy brown hair which came down to just below her shoulders and was not wearing any make-up.

Det Supt. Leyland added: "This woman obviously holds vital information about what happened to Mr Haselden and I would appeal to her to come forward and speak to us. Certainly from the way that she and John were acting in the Pizza shop, it was obvious that their relationship was close.

"I would also appeal to any person in the area of the Higher Parr Street shopping precinct, which would include the Round House pub opposite the shop, who may well have seen Mr Haselden and this lady, or Mr Haselden's distinctive motor vehicle, to contact us with any information they may have. From the time-scales involved it is clear that Mr Haselden's fatal injuries were sustained within a very short period of leaving the Pizza shop."

The sighting was within 20 to 25 minutes of the victim being found severely injured in his blue Ford Escort Cabriolet, registered P212 RMB at the hospital's Maternity Unit carpark.

In addition, police are still appealing for the man who drove John Haselden to the hospital in his own car to come forward. He was later seen getting into a white, four door saloon car which then left the hospital and headed towards Rainhill.

This man was described as white, mid 30s, around 6ft 1in tall with an athletic build. He wore a bright yellow rainproof jacket with a hood, a white T-shirt and light coloured trousers or jogging bottoms.

IF you can help, call 0151 777 6253.

A REPLICA of John Haselden's car, a blue convertible Ford Escort Cabriolet outside Pizza Heaven in Fingerpost where Haselden was last sighted.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.