Murder in Bolney remains unsolved after 30 years

Three decades have passed since a headless and handless torso was discovered in the village of Bolney – with police still unable to identify the victim.

Numerous theories emerged after the killing, ranging from London gangsters to East German fraudsters.

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The killing was made even more puzzling when police discovered the body had been dressed after the death in a shirt and trousers belonging to someone else.

Today marks the 30th anniversary since a body was found in undergrowth on Broxmead Lane, Bolney

Today marks the anniversary of the unsolved murder – 30 years to the day since the mystery began on October 11, 1991, when the body was found in undergrowth on Broxmead Lane.

The victim’s head and hands had been removed, and police were only able to identify him as a white male with a small star-shaped mole on his right thigh and a protruding belly.

Bolney resident Penuel Ellis-Brown, who has lived in the village for 32 years, said it is “very sad” that nobody has ever been brought to justice.

“With hindsight I wonder whether whoever disposed of the body knew it was a fairly quiet, off-the-beaten track area so had been in the area before,” she said.

“It is very sad that no-one was ever caught for the murder or that the body has never been identified.”

Today marks the 30th anniversary since a body was found in undergrowth on Broxmead Lane, Bolney

An initial murder inquiry was led by then Detective Chief Inspector Peter Kennett, who would later become known for catching Sarah Payne’s killer Roy Whiting.

Speaking in 2019, the Mr Kennett said he had been about to set off for a colleague’s retirement party when he was informed of the discovery.

“I lived a short drive from Bolney and drove straight to the scene,” he said. “By this time, it was dark and tipping it down with rain.

“Because of the atrocious weather, there was not much that could be done other than secure the scene and wait for the morning.”

Mr Kennett said he had never had to investigate a torso murder before.

“Not knowing who the identity of the victim is a serious drawback to a murder investigation,” he added.

“All we had was a body, and a deposition site in the middle of nowhere. No nearby houses. No passing traffic. It was a fluke miracle that he was found so soon.

“The public, i.e. witnesses, solve murders. We had no-one to ask.”

Today marks the 30th anniversary since a body was found in undergrowth on Broxmead Lane, Bolney

The case was looked at again in 2008 and taken on by Andy Griffiths, who was in charge of Sussex Police’s major crime team.

The decision was taken to re-examine the body and so it was exhumed from its grave in Haywards Heath Cemetery in 2009.

Mr Griffiths previously said: “We got a full DNA profile from the body which was used to confirm identity in the future.”

Fresh analysis revealed that the victim was aged between 30 and 40 and was about 5ft 6 to 5ft 8.

Using forensic tools not available in 1991, Mr Griffiths’ team were able to establish the victim had a link to Bavaria in Germany.

Despite three trips to Germany to put out appeals, they were unsuccessful.

Mr Griffiths said one possibility was the murder was linked to East German criminals who had emerged from behind the Iron Curtain when the Berlin Wall came down.

Sussex Police confirmed the widely publicised theory has never been satisfactorily resolved, but said the body was found a mile from a house being rented by a German fraudster.

Mr Griffiths said without a positive identification, the case may never be solved.

“It is solvable, but it needs that step forward,” he added.

He the Bolney Torso is “one of those cases that never goes away”.

“As I always say – it’s only a phone call away.”

Sussex Police said there have been no recent developments in the 30-year mystery but that the case is assessed every two years.

“This case has been exhaustively investigated over many years; there are no current lines of inquiry, and no further investigation is taking place,” a Sussex Police spokesman said.

“Of course, we would always consider any new information that might lead to new lines of inquiry.”