Shop stabbing murder victim named

Mrs Thomas was pronounced dead at hospital on Wednesday

A pensioner stabbed to death while shopping in a Poundstretcher store in Cardiff city centre has been named.

Valerie Thomas, 75, from Ninian Road, Roath, Cardiff, was stabbed in the back by another customer at about 1220 BST on Wednesday.

South Wales Police have confirmed she died of a single stab wound. The incident at the store in Church Street is being treated as murder.

A 44-year-old woman remains in custody at Cardiff Central police station.

The street was busy with shoppers and office workers at the time.

I sat her down on a chair and she was gripping me tightly. I told her the ambulance was on its way. Market attendant Maria Davies

Maria Davies, an attendant at Cardiff indoor market, was one of the first people at the scene and helped the fatally injured woman.

She said: "I was passing the side entrance of the market and I heard a lot of raised voices in Poundstretcher.

"I went into the shop. I saw these two old ladies coming towards me.

"One said, 'can you help me, someone has just been stabbed in the back'. I looked at the other lady and I saw the knife in her back.

'Crying and shaking'

"I sat her down on a chair and she was gripping me tightly. I told her the ambulance was on its way.

"I tried to calm her down. She was crying and shaking. She was still fully conscious because she was talking to me."

Church Street was sealed off by police investigating the stabbing

Cardiff Market supervisor Ivor Gates heard about the stabbing via the radio security system linking city shops.

When Mr Gates and a colleague arrived at Poundstretcher, the victim was conscious and sitting in a chair being cared for Ms Davies.

"She was cuddling her and the old lady was really gripping her tight and Maria was saying everything is ok, don't panic," said Mr Gates.

Ms Davies stayed with the woman until the emergency services arrived and she was taken away by paramedics.

Det Supt Paul Kemp said: "We are treating this as murder, and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact our incident room which has been set up at Fairwater police station, on 029 20 571 530."

Police are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in or near the Poundstretcher betweeen 1200 - 1230 BST on Wednesday.

A mobile police unit has been set up outside St John's church, close to the scene, to give witnesses the opportunity to speak to officers.

Staff at the store who witnessed the attack have been offered counselling.

Police also confirmed no staff were involved in the incident.