Witness assisting officers investigating the murder of Suffolk dog walker
57-year-old Anita Rose was found unconscious with serious head injuries.
Detectives investigating the murder of Anita Rose in Brantham have identified a potential witness after releasing CCTV images of two individuals they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.
The images were issued last week, on Wednesday 4 September, and police can confirm they have now identified one of the individuals, who is being treated as a potential witness and is not a suspect, and who is assisting officers with their enquiries.
Anita was found unconscious at approximately 6:25am on Wednesday 24 July on a track road near the Anglian Water sewage works and the railway line, off Rectory Lane, having left her house around 5am that morning to take her dog for a walk.
She was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital having sustained a serious head injury, where she sadly died four days later, on Sunday 28 July.
Police are still trying to find another person who they believe could be a key witness:
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown said: “We have not yet identified the second individual from our CCTV appeal and remain keen to speak to them as they may hold key information that could assist with our enquiries. I want to make it clear that this person is not a suspect.
“This investigation remains a priority to the constabulary and we are grateful for the assistance from our colleagues from across the organisation, as well as regional and national law enforcement agencies.
“Local residents will have been aware of an increased police presence over the last seven weeks and will today (Friday 13 September) have noticed even larger numbers in the village. These are officers who had previously been scheduled for routine training and who have been redirected to assist with our house-to-house enquiries. We are grateful for the continued support from the community in Brantham.
“We ask that anyone with information, no matter how big, small or even irrelevant it may initially seem, to contact us as it may assist us to establish the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s injuries and subsequent death.”
A location tracking application on Anita’s phone indicated that her walk started at 5am in Palfrey Heights. It showed that her walk reached the end of Newmill Lane by the river, before she turned around and retraced her steps back up Newmill Lane where the app was manually stopped at 6:03am, close to The Street, at the top of Newmill Lane. Further analysis has shown that it was normal for the app to be stopped at this point in Anita’s usual walk.
Police continue to appeal for anyone who may have seen Anita - or anyone else - that morning, especially between 6am and 6:30am, to get in touch. They are particularly keen to hear of any suspicious people seen from the top of Newmill Lane, at the junction with The Street, to the track road between the railway line and the Anglia Water sewage treatment plant, near Rectory Lane where Anita was found, as well as any suspicious vehicles seen in the area.
Detectives also continue to appeal for Anita’s missing cerise Regatta Calderdale II jacket and black phone case which is described as a black wallet style quilted case with gold crown and stud detail.
Anyone who recognises the unidentified potential witness from the CCTV images, or has any information relating to this murder investigation is being urged to contact Suffolk Police.