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 hit 35 years ago this week has been linked to a separate mystery murder involving a man’s headless corpse. 

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.  

While the murder has never been solved, it’s been suggested that Mr Gooderham – a bar stocktaker – was targeted to stop him informing on a scam involving a Krays associate who hijacked lorries to supply a pub protection racket. 

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

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

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

The Bolney Torso, which has still not been identified, was dressed after death in a shirt and trousers belonging to someone else. 

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

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

And discussing the new tapes, he told the Mirror: ‘These gangsters were overheard discussing cutting off the head and arms of a dead body in a car boot 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 got no assistance from the Met.’

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

He added: ‘Logic would suggest it was a gangland killing and the dismembering was to prevent identification. The head was cut off below the shoulders. 

‘The intelligence of an east London gangster discussing a similar murder would have been very beneficial.’

Two former Met detectives reportedly confirmed that the bug had been placed in a Portacabin in Canning Town, East London, where one of the gang ran a genuine business. 

Mr Gooderham and Ms Arnold had been enjoying a quiet evening together before being kidnapped. 

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

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

They had both been shot in the head from behind, with a post-mortem suggesting Mr Gooderham had been shot first. 

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

Witnesses later came forward to say they had seen a Mercedes driving erratically along the road with its lights flashing – suggesting the driver was trying to attract attention. 

A man was seen sat in the back seat. 

A cold case review in 2012 by former detective chief superintendent Albert Patrick confirmed that four men had been suspected of involvement in the killing and were members of a London crime gang. 

The Met said: ‘As with all unsolved cases, these murders are subject to periodic review to consider if they can be advanced with the passage of time. No charges have been brought. 

‘The MPS has recently been contacted by a former officer presenting possible new information relating to the murders. As with all information this will be carefully assessed and this is ongoing at this time.’

Sussex Police said: ‘This case has been subject of continuing 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 unresolved major cases, which examines any new information that has been provided and considers advances in investigative techniques. 

‘We would always consider any new information that might lead to new lines of enquiry.’