Pair arrested on suspicion of killing man wanted for murder of jeweller

James Brodie has not been seen since the days after Marian Bates was shot dead at her shop in Arnold, Nottingham, in September 2003.

It is thought Brodie, who was then 19 and from Bulwell, was the gunman who fired at her as she stepped between him and her daughter Xanthe.

Today Nottinghamshire Police have arrested two men on suspicion of the murder of Mr Brodie.

A force spokesperson said the men, aged 31 and 32, will be questioned throughout the day.

The arrests come as search teams continue to scour Maize Farm, in East Heckington, Lincolnshire, as part of the investigation to establish the whereabouts of Brodie. Police wanted to speak to him over Ms Bates’s murder and he was also wanted for three armed robberies and a racially aggravated assault, all of which were committed in a 12-hour period three weeks before the jeweller was killed.

Over the last nine years, he has not made any contact with family or friends in Nottingham and despite significant inquiries across England and Scotland, where he had connections, he has not been found.

Speaking on Monday, Detective Chief Inspector Rob Griffin said: “Over the years all the evidence we have collated suggests that James Brodie is dead.

“We have launched a murder investigation and as part of that 
our efforts to find him will continue.”

He said new lines of inquiry had led them to the area and that a number of experts and specialists were helping them with the investigation.