Police reward in 'vampire' murder

Police say Mark Adrian Perry may have changed his name and appearance

Australian police have offered a reward of Aus$1m ( US $926,000, £567,000) to find a man suspected of ordering the killing of a self-proclaimed vampire.

Mark Adrian Perry allegedly ordered the 2003 murder of Shane Chartres-Abbot, a prostitute who said he drank blood.

At the time of his death, Mr Chartres-Abbot was on trial for allegedly raping Mr Perry's former girlfriend and biting off part of her tongue.

Police in Victoria state say they believe Mr Perry is in Australia.

A 'centuries-old vampire'

Mr Chartres-Abbot was shot in broad daylight in Melbourne, in front of his father and pregnant girlfriend.

A man has already been convicted for carrying out the shooting, but Mr Perry - who is believed to have ordered the killing - is still at large.

"There will be some people who know where Perry is and $1m is a lot of money," said Victoria state police Det Insp Steve Waddell.

Mr Chartres-Abbot had allegedly told Mr Perry's former girlfriend that he was a centuries-old vampire who drank blood to survive.

Mr Perry was last seen in Queensland in 2007. Police said they believed he had changed his name and appearance.