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MURDERED grandmother Georgina Edmonds was tortured by her killer who stabbed her repeatedly with a knife, it has been revealed.
The 77-year-old was discovered with puncture wounds across the top of her body as well as fatal head injuries.
It is thought whoever bludgeoned Mrs Edmonds to death may have inflicted the stab wounds, using a kitchen knife, as he tried to make her reveal her personal identity number (PIN) for her cash card.
The brutal details of her death have been revealed today - two months to the day since the pensioner was found dead in the kitchen of her home in Brambridge. The Daily Echo understands Mrs Edmonds suffered multiple wounds across the top of her body, both front and back.
It is thought the killer may have gone to the picturesque cottage where she had lived for 30 years armed with the knife - described as a paring knife with a three-inch blade. The weapon has so far not been recovered despite extensive searches of the area and the river. It is not thought to have belonged to her.
Mrs Edmonds was found dead at her home on Friday, January 11. The murderer is still at large and police are sure he is from the local community.
Today they urged people to search their conscience and come forward, fearing he may strike again.
Detective chief inspector Paul Barton said: "Our feeling is that whoever killed Mrs Edmonds tortured her with the knife. It may be that the attacker took that knife with them after the killing as, suffice to say, there was no knife left at the scene.
"We know that a man tried to use the card and failed later that night. Maybe Mrs Edmonds refused to give the number, gave him the wrong number deliberately or the number was written down wrong or forgotten.
"Whatever the situation, the force used in relation to the head injuries she suffered alone was horrendous. To have subjected an elderly woman to that kind of torture while she was alive is horrific. There are no other words to describe it."
Since the early days of the murder probe detectives working on the investigation, called Operation Columbian, have maintained that the answer to who is responsible lies within the local community.
Det Chief Insp Barton added; "I would ask people to consider what has happened, consider the brutality and search their conscience. I am sure that whoever did this will have told someone they know by now.
"We don't want to raise fears but there is a real concern he may do this again."
As part of the investigation, which saw 250 police involved at its height, other serious crime and homicides have been monitored across the country but there have not been any other killings which are being linked.
Mrs Edmonds' body was found by her son Harry, who lives at neighbouring Kingfisher Lodge in Brambridge near O t t e r b o u r n e , along with a family friend.
She had been killed sometime between 11.15am and 3.15pm having been repeatedly hit over the head with a blunt instrument. On that day she had been visited by her hairdresser and had made and eaten her lunch before her killer struck at the cottage on the banks of the River Itchen.
Det Chief Insp Barton, said: "At this time we believe the weapon used to torture Mrs Edmonds was possibly a kitchen paring knife or something of similar shape and size. This weapon has not yet been located.
Appealing for information, he added: "Do you know or suspect anybody that would have had the opportunity to commit this crime on Friday January 11? Do you know or suspect anybody of using the victim's stolen ATM card at the Tesco Express, Twyford Road, at 10.38pm on the same day? Do you know anybody who has left the area since the day of the murder or who has stopped using the Tesco Express store and ATM?
Have you noticed a change in behaviour or character of any person but particularly those that might have connections either to Twyford Road or Kiln Lane or both?"
- Anyone with any information should contact the Operation Columbian investigation team at Hulse Road on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Alternatively information can be sent to FREEPOST, OPERATION COLUMBIAN or e-mailed to operation.columbian@hampshire.pnn.
police.uk
