New lead in widow murder inquiry

Widow Mrs Hughes was murdered almost a month ago

Detectives investigating the murder of a 90-year-old widow in her home, say a second person may have been involved.

Elsie Hughes from Abermorddu, near Wrexham, died in hospital last month - the day after an attack described by detectives as "savage".

Police who are already hunting a man seen her home wearing a white hooded top, now believe he may have been with an accomplice.

The murder is to feature on BBC's Crimewatch programme on Wednesday.

Speaking on Tuesday, Detective Chief Superintendent Ross Duffield said he believed another person may have been with their suspect who was seen leaving the pensioner's home in Hawarden Road around 2100 BST on 8 September.

The pensioner's granddaughter is to appeal on the Crimewatch programme

"From witness accounts and information we have received from people who were in the area that evening, it is possible that the hooded male was not alone," he said.

"The investigation is almost in its fourth week and we still have a number of sightings of individuals who have not been identified, we are keen to trace these people."

Extensive house-to-house inquiries have been undertaken by officers along with road checks and a poster campaign.

Although scores of people have responded to the appeals, detectives said they have still not had any confirmed sightings of the hooded man after the time of the attack.

"The individual who left Elsie's home on Thursday evening, 8 September, would have been heavily bloodstained and I am confident that someone must hold some further information on this individual," Mr Duffield added.

"I repeat that if anyone knows of a friend, acquaintance or family member that has been acting strangely since this attack, changed their appearance or discarded clothing, to contact us immediately."

A major police investigation has taken place into the killing

On Wednesday, Helen Hutcheson, Mrs Hughes' granddaughter, will make a direct television appeal for information to viewers alongside the head of the inquiry.

Last week detectives revealed that they believed the motive for the attack was theft - of under £200.

The murder came weeks after the widow, who lived alone, suffered a distraction burglary.

Police have staged a reconstruction of the time before the murder and have studied hours of CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the killer.

Detectives have also tried to trace a couple seen at a nearby Chinese takeaway between 1800 and 1900 BST on the evening of the murder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Wales Police on 0845 6071001 (Welsh language line) or 0845 6071002 (English language line) or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.