The potential eyewitness police were seeking in their investigation into the death of Carlo Heuvelman on the island of Majorca last summer has come forward after a photo of him was broadcast, unblurred, on a television crime show.

The police are now talking to him and have thanked everyone who helped spread the photo, which failed to lead to any tips when the blurred version was broadcast two months ago.

Heuvelman died in hospital after being attacked and repeatedly kicked in the head after a night out on the holiday island.

‘We know that publishing his face is a breach of his privacy but this case has had a major impact on society and the public prosecution department considers using the photo to be justified,’ a police spokeswoman said.

Police say the man was outside the Bar Bier Express at the time Carlo was lying on the ground and other witnesses have said he was using his mobile phone camera.

In total eight men from Hilversum have been arrested in connection with the case. Last November, three of them told judges at a preparatory hearing in Lelystad they did not touch the victim.

Prosecutors said then that the investigation into what happened is still far from complete. They have so far interviewed 60 witnesses, but is still looking for more, as well as additional video footage showing the actual attack.