Matthew Goddard beaten and then murdered with his electric guitar

A 12-year-old boy arrested over the east Belfast murder of Matthew Goddard has been released on police.

A 17-year-old male also arrested on Sunday in connection with the Christmas Eve killing remains in police custody.

Detectives from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team have been granted more time to question a 21-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, who were detained in connection with the murder.

A PSNI spokesman said: “Detectives investigating the murder of Matthew Goddard have this evening been granted by a court an additional 24 hours to question a 24-year-old woman and an additional 30 hours to question a 21-year-old man.”

A number of searches related to the investigation are ongoing in the east Belfast area.

Mathew Goddard – known to his friends at ‘Mat’ – was found in a house in Chobham Street around 9.40 pm on Wednesday, December 24.

The officer leading the hunt for his killers, Detective Chief Inspector John McVea, said the 41-year-old was killed in a brutal attack in the living-room of his home.

Then he was beaten with his electric guitar.

Police said Mr Goddard was not known to them, but they are investigating a possible link to drugs.

Detectives are trying to piece together his moments alive between 4 pm when he was last seen going into his house and when he was found around 9 pm by a friend.

Said DCI McVea: “Mat was not known to police until now and we are investigating a possible drugs link to his murder. This is one line of enquiry we are pursuing.”

Robbery has been ruled out as a possible motive and detectives from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team based at Seapark in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim are still trying to establish how many people were involved in the murder.

“The reason why Mat was attacked in such a sustained and brutal attack in his living room is not just clear at the moment.

“We are at an early stage of our investigation and we are asking anyone with information as to why Mat was murdered to contact detectives immediately.”

The senior detective said he was also appealing for information about the victim’s lifestyle in the run up to his murder on Christmas Eve.

Information can be passed to the murdersquad unit on the 101 non-emergency number or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.