Murder probe police call in Cracker-style crime profilers (From Daily Echo)

Murder probe police call in Cracker-style crime profilers

7:12am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in News

DETECTIVES leading the hunt for the killer of a Southampton great-grandmother are drafting in Cracker-style crime profilers to help with the inquiry.

The experts are being brought in to help officers find whoever is responsible for the murder of 85-year-old Delia Hughes, who was found dead from blows to the head in her waterside flat in Ocean Village .

Detective Superintendent Tony Harris said: “The analysis provided by these experts will help the investigation team to understand more about the crime and how it was committed.

“Crime profilers are frequently used in murder investigations and the information they can harvest from a crime scene often reveals a great deal and is invaluable when combined with other evidence.”

Mrs Hughes was found by relatives on Saturday after they became concerned they had not heard from her for several days.

A post-mortem revealed the pensioner had suffered several blows to the head.

 

Since the grim discovery the area around the Atlantic Close property has been sealed off while police conduct a fingertip search of the area.

They have revealed that a number of items have been found and officers are now trying to establish whether they may have belonged to Mrs Hughes.

The murder weapon has not yet been recovered.

It is thought the cordon that is still in place around the block of flats will remain there until at least tomorrow, although it has now been reduced to allow more residents unrestricted access to their properties.

As reported in yesterday’s Daily Echo two people arrested in connection with the murder inquiry were released after being questioned by detectives. Tim Tritta, 37, and his partner Crystal O’Dell, 29, who live on the floor above Mrs Hughes, were released on bail until next month.