Unsolved execution of couple in 1989 is linked to headless man mystery: Ex-Met cop reveals gang suspected of double shooting were caught discussing cutting of head and arms of third victim

The execution of a couple in a suspected gangland crash 35 years ago this week has been linked to a separate mystery murder involving the decapitated corpse of a man.

Terry Gooderham, 39, and Maxine Arnold, 32, had been eating dinner at their flat in Walthamstow, north London, when they were kidnapped and forced to drive to Epping Forest before being shot dead on December 23, 1989.

Although the murder has never been solved, it has been suggested that Mr Gooderham, a pub stockman, was targeted to stop him informing him of a scam involving a Krays employee who hijacked trucks to supply a pub protection racket .

And now former Met detective Mick Randall has claimed that a group of gangsters suspected of organizing the murders were later recorded discussing cutting off the head and arms of another victim.

The dead body was in the boot of a car and the criminals wanted to remove his limbs to make it harder to identify him from a series of distinctive tattoos.

A torso matching the same description was found on October 11, 1991 in the sleepy village of Bolney in West Sussex, where local police had long been convinced the incident was a London crime.

The Bolney Torso, who has still not been identified, was dressed in someone else’s shirt and pants after his death.

Sussex Police were only able to identify the victim as a white man with a small star-shaped birthmark on his right thigh and a protruding stomach. The body was exhumed in 2009 and DNA suggested he had ties to Germany.

On October 11, 1991, a headless torso with its arms cut off was found in the sleepy village of Bolney in West Sussex. The photo shows the body being exhumed in 2009

The body is lowered to his grave in Haywards Heath, Sussex

Mr. Randall claims the murders of Mr. Gooderham and Ms. Arnold, as well as the Bolney Torso case, were never solved because of police corruption.

And while we’re discussing the new tires, he told the Mirror: “These gangsters were overheard discussing cutting off the head and arms of a corpse in the trunk of a car to frustrate identification because of his tattoos.

‘A torso matching that description was found in Bolney, Sussex and local police there were convinced it was a London crime but received no help from the Met.’

Peter Kennett, the former Sussex detective who investigated the Bolney Torso case, confirmed to the newspaper that he was not aware of the tapes.

He added: ‘Logic suggests it was a gangland murder and the breakup was intended to prevent identification. The head was cut off below the shoulders.

‘Intelligence from an east London gangster discussing a similar murder would have been very useful.’

Two former Met detectives have reportedly confirmed that the bug was planted in a Portacabin in Canning Town, east London, where one of the gang ran a real business.

Mr Gooderham and Ms Arnold had enjoyed a quiet evening together before they were kidnapped.

It is suggested that Mr Gooderham – a pub stockman – was targeted to prevent him from informing about a scam involving a Krays employee who hijacked trucks to supply a pub protection racket

A general view of the road where Mr Gooderham lived with his partner in Walthamstow

According to reports at the time, Mrs Arnold’s mother later visited their flat and found their meal of sausages and mashed potatoes still in the lounge, with the gas fire and Christmas tree lights still on.

Their bodies were found in bushes at 3.50am in Epping Forest by a routine police patrol.

They had both been shot in the head from behind, with an autopsy showing that Mr Gooderham had been shot first.

His Mercedes 190E was found nearby with the engine running.

Witnesses later came forward and said they saw a Mercedes driving erratically across the road with its lights flashing, indicating the driver was trying to attract attention.

A man was seen sitting in the backseat.

A cold case investigation in 2012 by former Detective Chief Inspector Albert Patrick confirmed that four men were suspected of involvement in the murder and were members of a London crime gang.

Part of Broxmead Lane near the village of Bolney. Their bodies were discovered in the bushes along the road

The Met said: ‘As with all unsolved cases, these murders are subject to periodic review to consider whether they can be brought forward over time. No charges have been filed.

“The MPS was recently contacted by a former officer who may have presented new information regarding the murders. As with all information, this will be carefully assessed and is still ongoing at this time.”

Sussex Police said: ‘This case has been the subject of ongoing investigation over many years, and more recently by the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team.

‘It also forms part of the Surrey and Sussex Police Crime Review Team’s schedule of unsolved major cases, which examines any new information provided and considers advances in investigative techniques.

‘We would always consider new information that could lead to new lines of inquiry.’