A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of a Manchester man in Ukraine has been named. Daniel Burke had gone to suport the resistance against Russia when he was fatally shot from behind, an inquest hearing was told. But Daniel did not die in a theatre of war.
Daniel disappeared on August 11 last year before his body was found in a drain near a shooting range on the outskirts of Zaporizhzhya. His remains were not found until September 16, seven weeks after his death, and confirmation that it was Daniel, established through DNA, was not made until December. GMP has confirmed his death is being treated as homicide by the Ukrainian authorities.
The 36-year-old former British paratrooper, from Wythenshawe, had suffered more than one gunshot wound to the head and upper neck, and a man has made a confession to his killing, saying it was an accident, an opening to his inquest was told.
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The hearing before Area Coroner for Manchester, Zak Golombeck, was told information surrounding Daniel's death was relatively limited in respect of the circumstances. The Coroner said he had directed Greater Manchester Police to seek additonal information from the Ukrainian authorities.
Mr Golombeck said at the hearing: "From the information that was brought to the attention of GMP, Daniel was declared missing in August 2023. It was known that he had travelled with a comrade, another individual who at the time of the events was assisting and fighting with the Ukrainian authorities. They were travelling together to a local training area."
Evidence provided by the Ukrainian authorities suggested that was Daniel's last sighting. Mr Golombeck said it is understood that there was some "altercation or incident" whereby an individual who was travelling with Daniel had shot him.
'Jihadi Adam' - the man wanted
Now Greater Manchester Police in a statement have named a suspect wanted for Daniel's murder. Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, of GMP’s Serious Crime Division, said: “Our deepest condolences continue to be with Daniel Burke’s family, who have endured the most awful six months. We know his death is only made more traumatic by the absence of justice, and those closest to Daniel remain at the heart of our involvement in this case.
“Since we were made aware of Daniel’s tragic death in Ukraine in September 2023, our specially trained Family Liaison Officers were quickly sent to support his close family members to offer advice surrounding the Ukrainian investigation.
“We’ve worked closely with the Foreign Office, The British Embassy, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and also Daniel’s family, to help repatriate Daniel and bring him home so his family and friends could finally lay him to rest.
“Our officers and forensic specialists also conducted extensive additional tests on Daniel’s body upon his return to the UK to ensure that the best evidence was obtained and then shared with Ukrainian authorities as promptly as possible. Everything in our power continues to be done to assist the investigation team in Ukraine.
“Alongside Daniel’s family we have been informed by authorities in Ukraine that they have a named suspect in their investigation into Daniel’s death, Abdelfetah ‘Adam’ Nourine. Also known as ‘Jihadi Adam’, [he is] an Australian Algerian dual national who has subsequently fled the area and remains outstanding in efforts to find him.
“His Majesty's Area Coroner for Manchester Zak Golombek has been updated at every stage. The opening of the inquest into Daniel’s death last month was an important step forward in the journey to ensure that Daniel’s family receive the answers they deserve, but we know this will not stop until his killer is brought to justice in the Ukraine.
“Nothing will bring Daniel back, but regardless of how long the process may take, we remain committed to doing all we can to help gain justice for Daniel and his family.”
'I want him brought to justice', dad says
The Coroner said at the hearing: "We have some information about the circusmtances of Daniel's death but that information has not yet been confirmed. Daniel was at the time of his death serving in the Ukraine with the Ukrainian Army following the invasion by the Russian military in February 2022. Daniel went in or around April 2023 to join the defence of resistance against Russian military, and was living in the Zaporizhzhya region.
"Daniel's body was in a poor state and heavily decomposed and partially fragmented. But through anthropological testing and DNA testing, it was confirmed the body that was repatriated was that of Daniel. Following the findings of the pathologist it confirmed that Daniel appears to have been shot more than once in the head and neck area and had extensive damage to the head and neck area and damage to his upper vertebrae and upper ribs."
The Coroner said he was aware of a confession being made in respect of Daniel's death although he had not seen any evidence of it.
Kevin Burke, Daniel's father, told the hearing he had read a report of the Ukrainian autopsy and visited the site where Daniel's body was found. Referring to an individual who had made a confession, he said: "From day one I have always wanted that person bringing to justice. One of the difficullties is going to be when it gets to court, which will probably be a Ukrainian court should it ever get there, he is obvioulsy going to plead accidental discharge, he is going to say it is an accident, he certainly isn't going to say it happened on purpose.
"It is clear in his confession, which I have also read, in his confession he specifically describes how he shot Daniel - two distinct versions." But he said the angle from which Daniel was shot suggested "there was two movements" and asked the Coroner if he could look into this.
The Coroner said it is not for him to apportion blame to a named individual. But he added that he could if it was part of his findings later down the line that conclude that Daniel was unlawfully killed - without finding against a named individual.
