Police given more time to question Brantham murder suspect
A man in his 20's was arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday afternoon.
Detectives investigating the murder of 57-year-old Anita Rose that occurred in Brantham last week have been granted more time to question a man arrested in connection with the incident.
At approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July, Anita was found injured and unconscious on a track road near Rectory Lane by a member of public. She had left her house at around 5am to walk her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce.
Police were called by the East of England Ambulance Service shortly after 8am.
Anita had sustained injuries to her head and face and was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital, where she sadly died four days later (on Sunday 28 July).
A Home Office post-mortem examination was carried out the following day, on Monday 29 July, but the cause of death is yet to be established and will be subject to further tests being carried out.
On Wednesday 31 July, a man aged in his 20s and from Brantham was arrested on suspicion of murder, following anniversary checks that were carried out earlier that day to establish further potential lines of enquiry. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains.
Following an initial superintendent’s extension allowing detectives a further 12 hours to detain him, officers yesterday (Thursday 1 August) applied for a warrant of further detention at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court granting them an additional 36 hours to question the suspect, which will expire tomorrow morning, Saturday 3 August.
This is the third arrest, after police recovered Anita’s missing iPhone on Saturday 27 July which led to two people from Ipswich being arrested that afternoon in connection with the incident. A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later re-arrested on suspicion of murder.
A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Both parties were taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and have since been released on police bail, with conditions to return on 25 October 2024.
Anita’s pink zip-up jacket, which police believe she was wearing immediately prior to the incident, remains outstanding and detectives continue to appeal for information as to its whereabouts as it could hold key information or evidence to the investigation.
The jacket is described as waterproof in material and is believed to be from an outdoor clothing brand, possibly from Regatta.
There will continue to be a police presence in Brantham as officers conduct enquiries to understand the events which led to Anita’s death.