Man bailed over murder of widow

Elsie Hughes died the day after she was attacked

A 38-year-old man has been released on police bail after being questioned in connection with the murder of a 90-year-old widow a year ago.

Elsie Hughes died in hospital after she was badly beaten at her home in the village of Abermorddu near Wrexham.

The man, from Buckley in Flintshire, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

North Wales Police said the man had been given bail while more inquiries are carried out.

Officers made an appeal for fresh information on the anniversary of the attack on Mrs Hughes earlier this month.

In July, two men were jailed for perverting the course of justice in relation to her murder.

Charles Jones, 33, from Buckley, Flintshire, was jailed for 10 months and John Thomas, 37, from Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, was jailed for 12 months for disposing of a blue Ford Escort van police had been trying to trace as part of their investigation.

Burglary

Mrs Hughes was found with severe facial injuries on the floor of the home she had lived in for 50 years on 8 September 2005. About £200 was later discovered to be missing from the house.

She died the following day.

Officers are still examining more than 4,000 pieces of evidence and a £30,000 reward is still on offer.

At the appeal two weeks ago, police said they were keen to establish whether the attack was linked to a distraction burglary at the house on 15 August 2005, or to tree cutters who called there in July.

Anyone with information about Mrs Hughes' murder is asked to contact 0845 6071001 (English), 0845 6071002 (Welsh), or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.