Grisly case of gold jeweller gunned down in bath in Sopranos-style ‘hit’ 35yrs ago – as family offered fresh hope
THE family of a gold jeweller gunned down in the bath have been offered fresh hope 35 years on from the Sopranos-style hit.
Detectives have today re-opened the cold case of Richard “Ricky” Haywood, who was brutally murdered in 1989.
Gold dealer Haywood, 36, was executed at point blank range while shaving in the tub at his pad in Southampton.
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Nobody has ever faced justice for the cold-blooded murder – despite cops interviewing a whopping 11,000 people at the time.
Haywood was said to have been caught up in a criminal underworld and killed in a “professional” gangland hit.
He had taken out a £1million life insurance policy just weeks before his death.
The jeweller was obsessed with private security – but his CCTV cameras were not recording the night of his murder.
Haywood was shot five times inside his flat above his jewellery shop Ambiance on the evening of October 16, 1989.
At the time, detectives said all the evidence pointed towards a “professional killing”.
Haywood was described as a “wheeler dealer” who had many contacts in the underworld.
His murder resembled the notorious bathtub killing of mobster Brendan Filone in the first series of US mafia drama The Sopranos.
Key facts of chilling murder case
- Gold dealer Haywood, 36, was executed at point blank range while shaving in the tub at his pad in Southampton
- He had taken out a £1million life insurance policy just weeks before his death
- His CCTV cameras were not recording the night of his murder
- Ricky was likely shot with a old and worn .22 revolver
- He had apparently been negotiating a deal for a three-acre farm property near Southampton but faced mounting debts
- Ricky “mixed with some rather shady characters” and had bought stolen property
Hampshire cops think cutting-edge tech can help them finally crack the case.
Crimestoppers is also offering a £20,000 to anyone that can help lead to an arrest and conviction.
Today Haywood’s sister said: “We cannot express enough the huge impact Ricky’s death has had on us.
“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.
“I as Ricky’s sister have to live with the pain of his murder and knowing how my mum suffered too.
“We pray this new appeal will urge someone to come forward and hopefully after all these years find justice and closure.”
Detective Inspector Elizabeth Brunt said: “We are reviewing the evidence available to us,
“I would like to appeal to anyone out there that may hold information about what happened to come forward and speak to us.
Someone knows why Ricky was killed and who was responsible
DI Elizabeth Brunt
“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.
“I would urge those people to think about Ricky’s family who have waited more than 35 years to find out why someone killed him.
“While Ricky’s mother died broken-hearted, the rest of his family are desperate to know the truth.
“We need to give his family the answers they rightly deserve, to get justice for them and for Ricky. Your help is needed.
“Now is the time to communicate what you know, either directly, anonymously or through a third party.”
Vowing to crack the case, DI Brunt added: “Doing nothing is no longer an option.”
‘SHADY CHARACTERS’
A 1990 Crimewatch investigation revealed that Ricky was likely shot with a old and worn .22 revolver.
He had apparently been negotiating a deal for a three-acre farm property near Southampton but faced mounting debts.
At the time, Superintendent Ray Piper said Ricky “mixed with some rather shady characters” and had bought stolen property.
Two men were said to have fled from the Southampton area in a suspicious way.
Cops jetted to the US to speak to a lag in an American jail about Haywood’s murder.
Four people were arrested – but no one has ever been charged over the killing.
Haywood’s mum Phyllis went into hiding after his murder for fear her son’s killers were also after her.
She also offered up thousands of pounds as a reward for information but died without knowing who killed her son.
Anyone with information should call cops on 101 quoting Operation Tango/44080416574.
You can also provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
New £20k reward for information
Beth Simpson of Crimestoppers said: “Ricky’s heartbroken family still don’t have answers or justice.
“We are offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information given exclusively to us that leads to the arrest, charge and conviction of anybody responsible for his murder.
“If you have information, however small, please speak up and tell Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously.
“If you prefer not to talk to the police, you can tell us what you know, and we’ll pass it on for you.
“It is not too late. We are independent of the police and won’t ask for any personal details.
“There’ll be no police contact or witness statements, and you won’t have to go to court. Nobody will know you contacted us.”