Arne had been cast to play the part of Range in
Frontios: Part One (1984). He had just returned from a costume fitting when he was bludgeoned to death in his flat with a log from the fireplace. The role was later filled by
William Lucas. The prime suspect in Arne's murder was a schoolteacher from Italy who had been living rough in a local park, for whom Arne had been providing food. Police suspect the murderer came to Arne's home for whatever reason, and became incensed either when Arne made a pass at him, or refused his request for accommodation. A man fitting the suspect's description was also spotted by a neighbour sitting on the entry stairs of Arne's building shortly before Arne returned home from the aforementioned fitting at the BBC, eating from what appeared to be a jar of honey. A half-eaten jar of honey was found in Arne's flat. The body of this alleged killer was found washed up near Wandsworth bridge three days later, and his clothes, which were bloodstained, were found upstream at Putney. The coroner concluded that the man killed Arne and then committed suicide whilst in a disturbed state of mind.
