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    Brutal murder shattered idyllic life
    Doddie Edmonds
    Doddie Edmonds

    Click here for the all related stories.

    IN her idyllic cottage on the banks of the picturesque River Itchen she was living the perfect life.

    With her two dogs as companions, Georgina Edmonds enjoyed her independence living just a stones-throw from her family, including the two grandchildren she adored.

    During the week she would go out shopping, catch up with her close network of friends at a needlework group and count down the days until the weekend to spend with her grandson Harry, 13, and granddaughter Nilou, 11.

    But the tranquillity that exudes from Kingfisher Lodge in Brambridge was shattered four weeks ago when the 77-year-old, described as gentle and loving by those closest to her, was brutally murdered.

    For her daughter Doddie, who works as a nurse in Sudan, the shock has only just subsided.

    Now it is replaced by a brave and clear focus to catch the evil person who robbed her of her mum.

    Yesterday she spoke to the Daily Echo for the first time about the tough four weeks and made a plea to help find the killer who remains at large.

    What this person did to my mum was absolutely horrific and he is still out there. He must be a crazy, dangerous man.

    He killed her in a terribly vicious way, said Doddie.

    I replay her terror and how frightened she must have been, over and over. There must be lots of other grandmothers around here living on their own who will be frightened.

    She said: She was a very lovely mother but her role was very much more of a grandmother.

    She looked forward to the weekend when she had her grandchildren with her. She was a friendly, down to earth woman. She loved the garden, loved nature.

    She was happy as Larry living in her cottage with her cat and her little dogs.

    Mum liked everyone, she was interested in people C a nice lady who was quiet and generous and gentle. She loved flowers, loved gardening, loved needlework and had been a member of a local needlework group for more than 20 years.

    News of the brutal killing has shocked the local community C and can be seen in the numbers of cards and letters of sympathy and support the family has received.

    Local people have been incredibly good.

    People who I have not seen for years have written super letters about Mum, said Doddie.

    She was such a gentle person who met such a violent death in her own cottage. The terrible shock has subsided now and we feel very focussed on finding who is responsible.

    Speaking about how her family is coping, she said: The grandchildren Im sure are devastated but are holding it together very well. They loved their granny. For Nilou, granny was definitely her best friend. She wouldnt come through the door for wanting to go to the cottage.

    They were always putting on little shows together or making something, they were full of ideas together, doing crazy stuff C granny was amajor part of that, said Doddie.

    She would look forward to seeing them all week. They are coping well and being very grown up.

    There is no doubt the children were the happiest thing to happen to my mother in her life and she was a wonderful grandmother.

    As a family I think we are strong and we want to catch this person. We cant bring my mother back as she has gone. We all grieve in different ways at different times.

    Part of the time it all becomes very surreal. What happened is so terrible I just cant believe it.

    I replay her terror but I dont want this place (Kingfisher Lodge) where mum has lived for 30 years to become unhappy. She made it this way and Im sure its where she would want us to be.

    We are not going to let this villain spoil all her hard work.

    Mrs Edmonds was found battered to death in the kitchen of her cottage on the afternoon of January 11 by her son Harry and a close family friend.

    She was last seen alive at 11am that day and is thought to have been in the house, perhaps making some lunch, when her killer struck, said Doddie.

    If only the dogs could talk as I suspect theymust have seenwhat happened to Mummy. They are traumatised as they seem skittish and jumpy.

    Adding that no funeral arrangements had been finalised yet, Doddie added: This is a beautiful place to walk and think about words and hymns but the real focus at the moment is on catching this man. I feel that my mother has gone, she is a happy memory and she is OK.

    Asked about what she thinks about when she looks at her mothers cottage boarded up, she said: Sometimes I just go blank but other times I just imaginemy mother there making a cup of tea, doing her ironing, making cauliflower cheese, saying goodbye and giving me a hug.

    Evil has blown in and out of here. Its now gone C to be locked up in jail forever C as long as someone comes forward with the information.

    ñ Anyone with information should contact Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

    9:39am Saturday 9th February 2008


    Georgina Edmonds
      

    Print   Email this   Comment
    Posted by: paul b on 10:13am Sat 9 Feb 08
    The echo published a story 2 weeks ago about the family wanting to be left alone
    Posted by: Sherlock on 10:31am Sat 9 Feb 08
    paul b wrote:
    The echo published a story 2 weeks ago about the family wanting to be left alone
    Obviously the family change their minds
    Posted by: Paul boring on 10:56am Sat 9 Feb 08
    paul b wrote:
    The echo published a story 2 weeks ago about the family wanting to be left alone
    Left alone maybe while they were mourning her. Maybe now they want to catch the killer? Just a thought?
    Posted by: L G, Southampton on 6:09pm Sat 9 Feb 08
    My heart goes out to the family,I hope the police catch the evil person who did this and lock them away for a very long time.
    Posted by: shady on 4:40am Thu 14 Feb 08
    do not put them in prison cost to much give them to the people let them take them apart
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