A man known as the 'Artful Dodger of South Africa' is wanted by the police in connection with a man who lay dead in his Brighton flat for at least two months.
Ricardo Pisano, also known as Brandon Victor Pillay, uses the nicknames "Ree" or Ricky" and is wanted by Sussex Police in connection with the murder of Michael Polding who was discovered in his flat with serious chest injuries on 16 July.
The 'Artful Dodger of South Africa' was also known as "Ree" or "Ricky" and has been in jail for fraud offences
Concerned family members contacted police when Mr Polding failed to get in touch.
The 62-year-old had only moved to St George's Road in the Kemp Town area of Brighton from London nine months ago and detectives have said they are trying to build a picture of his lifestyle.
His family paid tribute to Mr Polding in July, saying that the former hospital worker had decided to move to Brighton as he wanted to start a new life in the gay community in the city.
It is believed he died in the middle of May and officers are trying to establish exactly when he died.
Michael Polding, originally from Scotland, was described as a "kind and caring" man by his family
Their investigation has led them to convicted criminal Pisano who is believed to have walked out of an open prison in New Zealand ten years ago after being jailed for fraud offences.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick May, who is leading 'Operation Journal', said the last known sighting of Pisano was at The Marlands shopping centre in Southampton on 28 July, but he is known to have links in Croydon, Brighton, and Crouch End, north London.
He said: "We are still unclear as to when exactly Mr Polding died and our inquiries have shown that Mr Polding was friends with Mr Pisano.
"We think he may have information about Mr Polding's last movements; however, we have been unable to find him so far."
Pisano, who is described by police as a manipulative man, predominantly lived in the Croydon area after arriving in the UK, where he is believed to have met Mr Polding three or four years ago.
The men are believed to have lived together at some point and Pisano moved to Brighton with Mr Polding, describing himself to people as the pensioner's carer even though he was not in poor health, sources said.
It is believed the men may have had some sort of physical relationship but detectives are trying to build up a picture of Pisano's background, including his employment history.
Mr May said the last known sighting of Pisano in Brighton was in mid-May and that he may now have grown a beard or be disguising himself in other ways.
He said: "He is originally from South Africa and speaks with a South African accent, although he may change his accent.
"He is about 35 years old and has also lived in New Zealand. He could be introducing himself under a number of different names and I would urge people to look at his photograph and contact police if they have seen him recently."
Mr May also appealed for Pisano to get in contact with Sussex Police directly.
He said Pisano had portrayed himself in the past as a New Zealander, an Aboriginal Australian and Italian.
Police are not ruling out a financial motive, but believe that Mr Polding's death was not linked to any hate crime as a result of his sexuality and that any assault he suffered was not as a result of a random attack.
Pisano is olive-skinned, about 5ft 6in and slim. Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Journal, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Police have released CCTV images of Pisano in a bid to track down the convicted criminal
Pisano's escape from prison led to him being called the South African Artful Dodger by South African paper The Star and "New Zealand's greatest prison escaper" by the Waikato Times.
A 28-year-old man from north London who was arrested on Sunday July 22 on suspicion of murder remains in police bail until August 23 pending further inquiries.