A gangland fugitive being hunted over the cold blooded execution of a friend of former Manchester United footballer Ravel Morrison remains on the run more than two years after the killing, it emerged today.

Abdul Ahsan, 19, vanished after underworld Mr Big, Andre Marshall, 29, was pistol whipped and shot dead when he was ambushed in his BMW during a rendezvous near a garden of remembrance.

His body was found lying beneath a tree outside St Clement's Church in Urmston, Greater Manchester with police fearing the motive for May 2015 killing arose out of the dead man being owed £1,600.

Police in Manchester are searching for Abdul Ahsan, 19, left, in connection with the gangland murder of Andre Marshall, right, who was shot dead in Urmston, Greater Manchester in 2015

Marshall was shot dead outside St Clement's Church in Urmston in May 2015, pictured

Following Marshall's murder, Morrison, 24 - now on loan from Lazio to Mexican club Atlas - posted a message on his Twitter page reading: 'It's mad I can be with someone 2 days later there gone.. R.I.P Dre.' Another 13 hours later said: 'Dre M R.I.P Brother gone but never forgotten Only 2 days ago we made plans how you could get rich.'

Ahsan was initially quizzed over the murder but skipped bail the following July and two years on and now 21 he is still at large with a £10,000 reward being offered for information as to his whereabouts.

The murder weapon thought to be a .45 Colt semi automatic pistol was never traced.

This week at an inquest a coroner ruled Marshall had been unlawfully killed after hearing how he had been shot in cold blood 'without a fight or struggle.'

The victim, a father of one, had been an enforcer for Manchester's infamous Gooch Close gang which has fought a bloody drugs war with other mobs across the city for the past three decades.

Marshall was a friend of former Manchester United ace Ravel Morrison, pictured

In July 2007 he and two other hitman went on a rampage with a lethal sub machine gun in a leisure centre weights room - as police gave a talk on gun crime in a room next door.

Police believe Ahsan was being driven around by Marshall before opening fire on his target from the front passenger seat when the BMW 3 series was parked outside the church.

Four initial shots were fired from inside the car before the front seat passenger got out then 'finished off' Marshall as he lay on the ground. Tests showed Marshall was blasted seven times in the torso and legs and also had a fractured skull, consistent with a heavy blow to the head from the gun.

Ahsan jumped back into the BMW and drove off nearly crashing into an oncoming Ford Transit van before dumping the car nearby.

Detective Chief Insp Sarah Jones, of Greater Manchester Police told the Stockport inquest officers were alerted by a local who spotted the body. She said: 'We made a number of house to house enquiries and we searched the CCTV.

'We found a parked car around the corner from where Andre was found and we believe he was in the car prior to his death.

'During the forensic examination we recovered casings which came from the bullets, but they weren't all there in accordance with the injuries Andre received. We believe somebody had collected some of the casings in an effort to delay the investigation.

'Andre was also subject to forensics examination himself. We believe there was intended contact between him and the person responsible. He was hit on the head with a weapon. He was in contact with the person responsible for his death.

'We believe Andre was sat in the driving seat of the car and the person responsible was sat in the passenger seat. We believe Andre was trying to exit the vehicle when he was shot, then he was moved away from the vehicle and left in the area where he was found.

'He was shot around seven times in his back and his side. There is no evidence of a fight or a disturbance beforehand.'

In a statement pathologist Dr Richard Lumb said: 'Andre's cause of death was from seven gunshot wounds, one to his left shoulder, one to his left side, one to the left side of his abdomen, one to the right side of the lower back, one to the back of his thigh one to his left shin and one to his right shoulder. A number of bullets also grazed his skin.

Marshall's inquest heard the gangster was shot seven times as he tried to leave his BMW by someone sitting in the passenger seat. He also suffered lacerations to the scalp and skull

Coroner Chris Smith said there was no evidence of a fight or a struggle at the scene

There was severe internal bleeding to both lungs and the heart. He would have died rather quickly. There were also multiple lacerations to the right of the scalp and the right side of the skull. His skull was fractured and there was evidence of brain injury. I believe a self loading pistol was involved in the shooting and the beating which was 'pistol whipping'.

'There was also grazing to his knees and bruising, which would have come from him being placed in the ground.'

Marshall's mother Patsy Smith attended the inquest but spoke only to confirm her son's name and date of birth.

Coroner Chris Smith said: 'We have heard how casings from the bullets were partially removed from the crime scene in aid of delaying the investigation.. This is particularly calculated. There was no evidence of a fight or a struggle.

Kedell Rivers, 22, left, and Danial Shahid, 20, right, were both jailed after they helped Ahsan move the BMW following the killing. They were both convicted of assisting an offender

'I record a conclusion of unlawful killing. I am very grateful to the family for coming down today, this mustn't have been easy and I can't imagine the position you find yourselves in. I do not underestimate what you are going through. I want to offer my sincerest of condolences to you all.'

Last year Kadell Rivers, 22, was jailed for three-and-a-half years whilst Danial Shahid, 20 got four years after they helped Ahsan move the BMW after the killing. Both were convicted of assisting an offender.

The court heard the three men went on a £700 shopping spree at the Emporio Armani store at the Trafford Centre shopping complex before returning to the murder scene to mingle with onlookers. Drops of Ahsan's blood was found in the BMW after he accidentally injured his left thumb while firing the gun in a two-handed grip.

Marshall's family said his killing was a 'senseless, brutal and despicable act.'