Georgina Edmonds was a kindly 77-year-old lady who was in good health. She lived alone with her dogs in a relatively isolated property on Kiln Lane, Brambridge.

"She had lived amongst the local community in peace for more than 30 years, close to loving family members and friends.

"On Friday, January 11, she'd been enjoying her usual routine, spending time with her dogs, having her hair done, and preparing lunch.

"At some time between 11am and 5.30pm, Mrs Edmonds was attacked and murdered in her home by one or more people. She died as a result of extensive head injuries and the motive is still not known.

"Her handbag and contents were stolen and her mobile telephone was later recovered by police ten minutes south of her home address on the Itchen River footpath. The discovery of the mobile telephone is significant in that it indicates the direction of travel taken by the offender or offenders and confirms that they must have been either on foot or on a pedal cycle. The footpath emerges on either Highbridge Road, Twyford Road in Eastleigh or Bishopstoke.

"Detectives, forensic experts and search teams have spent weeks painstakingly piecing together what happened that day.

"While much of the detail needs to remain confidential, the attack was sustained with increasing levels of force used and more than a simple blow caused the death.

"What is known is that Mrs Edmonds' bank debit card was stolen and hours later at 10.38pm was being used at a cashpoint at Tesco Express, in Twyford Road, Eastleigh, less than two miles south of the scene of the murder. The man using the victim's debit card was captured on CCTV. He had concealed himself by wearing a large yellow reflective workman's jacket with the hood up. He seemed to be wearing dark gloves, blue jeans or trousers and scruffy white training shoes. He was of slim to medium build and about 5ft 11in. Given the man's approach to the cashpoint it may be that he was familiar with its location and that he has used it before.

"The cashpoint would have been used by residents of Boyatt Wood, Allbrook and Twyford Road, as well as drivers stopping for petrol or people using the Tesco shop.

"I would urge the community to look at the descriptions and photofits and forward the names of anybody who may fit those descriptions or the details of anybody else who may have been responsible or who may know something about the murder.

"Behavioural and geographical profilers have assisted the investigation in profiling the offender and confirming that the most likely scenario that the offender was either living locally or had close contacts nearby.

"The offender may well have been familiar with the area prior to the attack. They may have been working or missing from work or simply be employed in the area or in a capacity to enable them to visit the area without drawing attention to themselves.

"Why did the person using the victim's cash card seven hours later take that risk? Were they desperate for cash? Were they involved in the murder? or had the cashpoint card and pin number been passed on to them and received relatively innocently?

"Other questions we are asking the public to consider is whether anybody borrowed a high visibility yellow jacket recently? Has anybody had one stolen? Is there anybody that has unexpectedly moved away from the area since the attack on the January 11? Has anybody innocently or otherwise received or found the victims property...an expensive Radley Handbag and it's contents?

"We are determined to catch the person responsible for the murder of Mrs Edmonds with a view towards bringing some peace to the family and community within which she lived."