Malcolm Green

Background

Malcolm Green was jailed for life in 1971 for the brutal murder of a Cardiff prostitute. When he was released after 18 years, he bludgeoned to death a young tourist from New Zealand. Green dismembered the body, wrapped it in plastic bags, and dumped it in different places along a road in South Wales. His case became known as the “Body in the Bags” killing.

The offence

In the 1971 case, Malcolm Green was jailed for life for the brutal murder of a Cardiff prostitute. In the 1990 case, Green bludgeoned to death a young tourist from New Zealand, identified as Clive Tully. The torso, head, and limbs were found in bags.

Investigation

The murder hunt was launched after the “grisly discovery of a torso in Rogerstone”, followed a few days later by a head and limbs “in St Brides, Wentloog.” Green was tracked down after the investigation identified him.

Trial

Malcolm Green received a life sentence in 1971 for the murder of a Cardiff prostitute. In October 1991, Green was sentenced to life again for the “Body in the Bags” killing, with a recommendation that he should serve a minimum of 25 years. In 1991, Green was given a whole life tariff by the Home Secretary.

Sentencing

In October 1991, the recommendation was that Malcolm Green should serve a minimum of 25 years for the murder of New Zealander Clive Tully, “whose torso, head and limbs were found in bags.” The then Home Secretary decided “life means life,” and gave Green a whole life tariff.

Appeals

Green’s case was among those which may have to be reviewed following “a historic ruling by the Law Lords that Home Secretaries can no longer change sentences.”

Outcome

Malcolm Green was released after 18 years from the 1971 life sentence. He was paroled in 1989. After his later sentence, he received a whole life tariff in 1991.

Aftermath

Malcolm Green’s victim in the Body in the Bags case was identified after a newspaper graphic artist produced a computer-enhanced photograph of the victim. A man jailed for life for murdering a prostitute and bludgeoning to death a young New Zealand tourist “may have his sentence reviewed.” The case involved trial judges recommending minimum terms but the Home Secretary having decided that “life means life.” If sentences were subsequently set at what the original trial judge recommended, defendants “could be freed sooner than anyone thought.” After Green was tracked down, it emerged that he had only recently been released from jail for a similarly gruesome murder 20 years previously, in which the victim had also been cut up.

Other details

Malcolm Green was from Ely, Cardiff. His motive was recorded as “PC-nonspecific.” His modus operandi (MO) was recorded as: “Killed female prostitute (1971) and male stranger (1990).” The case recorded that his bloodlust and obsession with mutilation may have been sparked by seeing his younger brother decapitated by a train when he was just 12. The case text included the line: “Body in the Bags' killer may be released early South Wales Echo November 26, 2002”.