John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer’s top ‘lieutenant’, 50, who lives in Spain is quizzed by cops over the brutal murder of notorious crime boss

JOHN “Goldfinger” Palmer’s chief “lieutenant” has been quizzed on suspicion of his murder.

Richard Cashman, 50, flew back from Spain to voluntarily attend a police station by appointment where he was questioned under caution as a potential suspect.

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He was charged with Palmer over a multi-million alleged timeshare fraud just four weeks before the Brink’s-Mat bullion smelter was shot dead at his remote Essex home in June 2015.

Cops probing 65-year-old Palmer’s unsolved murder believe the timing of the fraud charges could be significant.

Cashman was questioned under caution on tape on Saturday in the presence of a lawyer but was not arrested.

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Gangland boss Palmer was shot dead - but police initially believed he had died of natural causes because of recent keyhole surgery to his chest.

A murder investigation was launched when it was discovered he was shot six times in his garden on June 24, 2015.

An inquest into his death concluded he was unlawfully killed and police have said his shooting had "all the hallmarks of a professional hit".

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A police spokesman said today: "A 50-year-old man has today, Saturday, February 4, been questioned on suspicion of the murder of John Palmer in Brentwood in June 2015.

"The man is originally from Tyneside but is currently living in southern Spain. He was interviewed at a police station in the UK.

"Enquiries into Mr Palmer's murder are on going and detectives are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to contact the Brentwood Major Investigation Team."

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Palmer, who once described as Britain's richest criminal and thought to have been worth £300million, got his nickname after he was arrested on suspicion of melting down gold from the Brink's-Mat robbery at Heathrow Airport in 1983.

Although he was never convicted, the robbery of £25million f gold was the biggest robbery to have ever taken place in the UK at the time.

At the time of his death Palmer was also due to stand trial in mainland Spain for property fraud.