Police seek potential witness to Brantham killing

Suffolk Police are still trying to locate this unidentified person, who it says is not a suspect, after finding another potential witness

Detectives investigating the death of a woman have found a potential witness, following a CCTV appeal.

Anita Rose, 57, from Brantham, Suffolk, was out walking her springer spaniel Bruce in the village on 24 July when she was attacked and later died in hospital.

One man has been identified as a witness, not a suspect, but police officers are still searching for another man who they believe could help the investigation.

Three people have so far been arrested and released on bail in connection with the incident, including two on suspicion of murder and one on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

The police wish to identify this man who has been pictured on CCTV with and without a hat on

Suffolk Police issued CCTV images of two men, and said one was now assisting officers with their inquiries.

Det Supt Mike Brown said: "We have not yet identified the second individual from our CCTV appeal and remain keen to speak to them, as they may hold key information. I want to make it clear that this person is not a suspect."

On 24 July at 06:25 BST, Ms Rose was discovered unconscious by a member of the public near the Anglian Water sewage works and railway line off Rectory Lane, Brantham.

An ambulance was called before police were then contacted at 08:00.

Ms Rose was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with serious head injuries. She died four days later on 28 July.

Suffolk Police has released an updated map of Ms Rose's walking route on the morning before she was attacked

A map of Ms Rose's movements on the day of the incident was previously put together by police.

Tracking from an application on her phone revealed her walk started at 05:00 in Palfrey Heights and she reached the end of New Mill Lane by the river.

Detectives said the walk then returned back up New Mill Lane where the app was manually stopped at 06:03, close to The Street at the top of New Mill Lane.

Police officers have appealed for information from anyone who may have seen Ms Rose or anyone else that morning, particularly between 06:00 and 06:30.

They were "particularly keen" to hear about any "suspicious people or vehicles" seen in the area around New Mill Lane and Rectory Lane.

Anita Rose died in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge from her injuries

Det Supt Brown said there had been an increased police presence since the murder and "even larger numbers in the village" on Friday, as officers due for routine training were redirected to help with house-to-house inquiries.

"We are grateful for the continued support from the community in Brantham.

“We ask that anyone with information, no matter how big, small or even irrelevant it may initially seem, to contact us as it may assist us to establish the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s injuries and subsequent death," he said.

A jacket that police believe Ms Rose was wearing at the time is also still missing.

Police believe it was a cerise Regatta Calderdale II jacket, while her black phone case - described as a wallet-style quilted cover, with gold crown and stud detail - has not been found.

A 45-year-old man was first arrested on suspicion of attempted murder before he was later re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

A 37-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. They were both released on conditional bail.

A third person, a man in his 20s from the village, was arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail also with conditions to return to police in October.

No charges have been made by the police force and they continue to appeal for witnesses and information.