Christopher Hughes, a young father, pleaded for his life as he was driven towards his death by a gang of vigilantes who had spent the last 24 hours hunting him down. They found him on a housing estate in Wigan and forcibly placed him in the boot of an Audi in broad daylight.

Christopher's ordeal culminated on a secluded country road, where he was viciously stabbed 90 times in a sadistic attack. His mutilated body was discovered four days later, abandoned and exposed to the elements, by a dogwalker.

This horrific murder is the focus of a new documentary titled Manhunt, airing on Channel 4 this evening (Tuesday). This three-part series delves into the investigation led by Greater Manchester Police's Serious Crime and Specialist Operations teams following two murders and relevant intelligence.

In tonight's episode, viewers will witness detectives working tirelessly to locate Christopher, a former boxer from Wigan, after a distressed member of the public reported witnessing his abduction.

Eight men are currently serving life sentences for Christopher's kidnapping and murder. A trial at Liverpool Crown Court revealed that the gang believed, mistakenly, that Christopher had raped a teenage girl at knifepoint.

Despite his desperate protests of innocence, Christopher sustained knife wounds to his head, neck, body, and limbs, most while he was still alive. His body lay undiscovered near a motorway in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, for four days before being found on February 22, 2022.

The deadly plot began the night before Christopher's murder, fueled by false accusations of a sexual offense. Important DNA evidence later confirmed that it did not match Christopher.

The group, comprised of acquaintances or relatives, sought "justice" and spent the evening of February 17 seeking Christopher. However, when they found his home unoccupied, their search was briefly halted.

On February 18 at approximately 4:30 PM, Christopher was finally spotted in Almond Grove on the Worsley Hall estate. The gang cornered him and forced him into the boot of a blue Audi A4.

A witness to the abduction was threatened by gang member Erland Sphahiu, who warned him to "keep your f...ing mouth shut, or you're next." As Christopher was driven to his demise, he pleaded from the trunk, asking, “What have I done wrong?”

In a remote area on White Moss Road South, Skelmersdale, Christopher was brutally attacked and killed in a case of mistaken retribution, suffering at least 90 stab wounds from multiple weapons, including a machete.

After the brutal killing, his body was left on a grassy embankment. Later that evening, the gang attempted to bury him but were interrupted by police investigating a nearby traffic accident.

The criminals tried to erase evidence, destroying CCTV, changing phones, deleting messages, and discarding the Audi used in the abduction. However, extensive CCTV footage was recovered, revealing their movements leading to Christopher’s tragic end.

In October 2022, all eight men were found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court for their roles in Christopher's kidnapping and murder.

Among them, Erland Spahiu received a life sentence with a minimum of 35 years for murder and 12 years for kidnapping. Curtis Balbas was sentenced to 34 years for murder and 9 years for kidnapping, while Martin Smith received 33 years for murder and 12 for kidnapping.

Razgar Khader Mohammed received a life sentence of 27 years, Alan Jaf and Khalil Awla 26 years each, and Dean Smeaton O’Neill-Davey 25 years. Erion Voja was sentenced to 23 years for murder and 10 years for kidnapping.

A ninth defendant, Andrius Uzkuraitis, was convicted of assisting an offender and received six years in prison. The defendants were all interconnected through family, work, or social ties, with several being related.

Notably, on the day of his murder, Christopher had become aware of rumors about him and opted not to contact the police, leading to his tragic end instead.

After the crime, Balbas sought refuge at his girlfriend's house and attempted to swap phones to evade detection. Some defendants did online research about the case and even planned to send one defendant abroad to avoid arrest.

The Audi was initially hidden but later dismantled in an attempt to conceal evidence. However, police recovered vehicle parts and blood swabs that matched Christopher's DNA.

The first episode of Manhunt will air on Channel 4 at 9 PM tonight.