Fatal shooting murder case reopened after 35 years

Detectives have reopened a murder investigation, 35 years after the fatal shooting of a man in Southampton.

Richard Haywood, known as Ricky, was killed in his flat above Ambiance Jewellers on Shirley Road in October 1989.

Hampshire Constabulary said it was reviewing the evidence with the benefit of advancements in forensic science.

In a statement, Mr Haywood's sister said she was hoping for "justice and closure".

Mr Haywood, aged 36, was shot numerous times at close range in the attack.

The case was one of the biggest murder inquiries Hampshire police had handled and the force made an appeal on BBC One's Crimewatch UK programme several weeks later.

Detectives spoke to 11,000 people and took about 4,000 statements, but no-one was ever charged with the murder.

Mr Haywood was known to have been negotiating a land deal in the New Forest, for which he needed £55,000 to close.

Earlier on the day of his death he had been in a meeting with financial consultants over a request for a loan.

A witness later saw Mr Haywood having a heated discussion with an unidentified man in the shop.

After he returned to his flat, gunshots were heard by a neighbour.

Two people were seen to run out of an adjoining alleyway and leave in an orange-red saloon car.

The shop was broken into later in the evening using Mr Haywood's keys, although security cameras were not working.

Det Insp Elizabeth Brunt renewed an appeal for information about his death.

"I believe someone knows why Ricky was killed and who was responsible. Whatever your allegiances, you would be doing the right thing by telling us what you know.”

"We need to give his family the answers they rightly deserve, to get justice for them and for Ricky.

"Your help is needed and now is the time to communicate what you know, either directly, anonymously or through a third party - doing nothing is no longer an option.”

The Crimestoppers charity said it was offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information given exclusively that leads to the arrest, charge and conviction of anybody responsible for the murder.

In 2004, Mr Haywood's mother Phyllis put up a reward of £100,000 but died without seeing anyone convicted of her son's murder.

In a statement issued via police, Mr Haywood's sister said his death continued to have a "huge impact" on the family.

"The pain never goes away. My mum never had peace and it slowly ate away at her, she went to her grave never knowing who committed this awful crime.

"We pray this new appeal will urge someone to come forward and hopefully after all these years find justice and closure," she said.

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