Post-mortem unable to find victim's cause of death

Anita Rose's family are being supported by specialist officers

A post-mortem examination of a woman who died following an attack has been unable to establish a cause of death.

Anita Rose, 57, was found with serious head injuries on a track near a railway line in Brantham, Suffolk, at 06:25 BST on Wednesday before she died in hospital on Sunday.

A Home Office post-mortem took place on Monday and further tests will now be carried out, police have said.

A 45-year-old man from Ipswich - already arrested on suspicion of attempted murder - has been re-arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed, which Det Supt Mike Brown reassured the public about.

"We completely understand and empathise with the concern some members of the Brantham community have expressed about the fact a male who has been arrested on suspicion of murder was subsequently bailed," he said.

“It is important to understand that at times it may be necessary to make arrests in serious and complex investigations based on the evidence available at that time to fully understand the role individuals may have played in any offences identified.

"As such, a person’s status in an investigation may change as the case develops which may result in options such as bail being used."

Officers are trying to locate Ms Rose's pink zip-up jacket that she was wearing before the incident

This Wednesday will mark one week since the incident happened.

Det Supt Brown said officers will distribute letters in the Rectory Lane area that contain details of the investigation and a QR code to the Major Investigations Portal online.

Officers will also be on trains between Ipswich and Manningtree to speak with passengers who may have been on board the week prior.

"We will pursue all lines of enquiry to understand what led up to this event," he added.

This map details the route officers believe Ms Rose took on Wednesday when she walked her dog

A map detailing Ms Rose's route before the attack was published in an attempt to help find a missing pink zip-up jacket she was wearing.

It is believed Ms Rose left her home at about 05:00 BST that day to walk her springer spaniel Bruce before she was found by members of the public.

She died in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge on Sunday after suffering serious head injuries.

Her family, who described her as a "loved in the community", are being supported by specialist trained officers. Police said the dog was found with Ms Rose and was safe and well.

Officers have appealed to train passengers who may have seen something in the area as they passed on Wednesday

Officers have remained in the village conducting investigations and residents have expressed their shock.

A 37-year-old woman from the Ipswich area was also arrested on Saturday on suspicion of handling stolen goods in connection with the incident and she has been released on bail.

Both the woman and the 45-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder were bailed with conditions to return to the police on 25 October.