Community 'key' to murder hunt

Hilary Crowley had an interest in trains

Police say they have pieced together more information about the life of a Stirling murder victim after an "excellent" response from the public.

The body of partially-sighted Hilary Crowley, 64, was found in her Cowane Street flat on Thursday.

Detective Inspector Graham Bye said officers had learned that she had an interest in trains and attended the Christa Delphian Church in Edinburgh.

He said the key to finding her killer or killers lay within the local community.

Officers from Central Scotland Police found Mrs Crowley's body after being alerted by concerned neighbours.

The community reaction has been good - and we remain of the view that the answer to this crime lies within the community Detective Inspector Graham Bye

The murder inquiry was launched the following day after a post mortem examination.

Mr Bye issued an appeal for more information about the victim, who was described as a private woman who lived on her own.

On Monday, he said: "The public response has been excellent.

"From that, we have established more about Hilary's life including the fact she had a life-long interest in trains, which she continued with despite her failing eyesight.

"We are also speaking to people from the Christa Delphian Church in Edinburgh, which Hilary was known to attend.

"The community reaction has been good - and we remain of the view that the answer to this crime lies within the community."

Door-to-door inquiry

A team of 60 officers is pursuing a number of lines of inquiry as it works around the clock on the investigation.

Information posters and leaflets were distributed throughout the city over the weekend, while door-to-door enquiries are also being carried out.

Mr Bye said he was confident that the person or people responsible for the "senseless" crime would be caught.

He renewed an appeal for information from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Cowane Street area between Monday and Thursday of last week.

Mrs Crowley had been the victim of a robbery in her home on the evening of 6 February.