Hitman hunted after shooting

A suspected professional killer was being hunted last night after a middle-aged man was heard pleading for his life before being shot dead.

A suspected professional killer was being hunted last night after a middle-aged man was heard pleading for his life before being shot dead.

The victim's body was found yesterday in the front of a black Peugeot 205 at a superstore in Ashford, Kent. He is believed to have been shot twice in the head.

Paul Winters, a witness at Halfords store at the Bybrook shopping centre, said: "The poor guy was screaming for his life. He shouted, 'Please don't shoot me', and you could hear the terror and desperation in his voice. Then the next thing I knew he was slumped at the wheel of his car. I didn't evenreally hear the sound of any shots, so the killer might have used a silencer."

Last night police were examining a silver-coloured H-registration Mercedes car, parked 35 yards from the dead man's car, which they believe may belong to the killer.

The hitman was believed to have fled on foot towards the M20 and armed police set up roadblocks and started searches of the area.

Anton Kaye, 26, deputy manager of the Curry's shop at the park, said the dead man "was wearing sunglasses and looked about 50. There were no doors open and no signs of broken glass, so the killer obviously got up pretty close to him and was possibly in the car."

He added: "Some relatives or friends of his came in and were distraught. They were in tears and could not believe what happened."