Charlie's hitman in our sights - police

- 29 November 2006

GUNNED DOWN: Charlie Butler

THE daughter of a grandad mercilessly gunned down outside his home in cold blood, has revealed how her family relived the horror when CCTV footage of the murder was shown on Crimewatch on Monday.

Police said they were pleased with the public's response to the show, and are now hot on the trail of the suspected hitman with a host of new leads.

The footage showed father-of-nine Charlie Butler - described as a "wheeler-dealer" - frantically trying to escape the gunman.

He was chased around his car after he pulled up outside his house in Green Lane, Dagenham, on Wednesday, October 13, 2004.

The man shot twice but missed. Then Mr Butler's luck ran out when he tripped over and was shot in the neck as he stood up.

Mr Butler spent the rest of his life in hospital, and died eight months later, aged 51.

His daughter Denise, 23, said: "The investigation is progressing quickly now, due to Crimewatch. It's taken a long time but it's getting there."

The family watched the programme, but Miss Butler said: "We couldn't watch my dad being taken, but we watched it for the update. We know the case is going extremely well."

Police suggested the murder was a contract killing, and Miss Butler admitted: "We got told that from day one.

"The gunman didn't know my dad - we reckon he's been paid to do someone else's dirty work.

"It was such a shock because it was my dad. He didn't do anything to anyone. He always worked for his money and he was good to everyone.

"He was like Del Boy and we played Only Fools and Horses at his funeral."

Police are keen to trace previous owners of a red Mazda 626, number plate M290 PEF, which was found in Surrey.

They have also appealed for information about the killer and his accomplice, and there is a £25,000 reward.

The 6ft gunman was described as a light-skinned black man, with short cropped hair, in his late 20s. He was wearing a distinctive dark jacket with white writing on the back and a white motif on the left arm.

The second man was taller, white, slim, with fair thinning hair, in his early 40s. He wore dark clothing with white trainers.

Miss Butler, whose mum still lives in the house in Green Lane, but no longer likes to go outside, appealed for people to come forward.

"If they're scared, they can do it anonymously," she said.

"If they put themselves in our shoes it's not nice. Some people have got hearts at the end of the day."

Anyone with information should call 020 8345 4850 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.