Dog walker murder investigation: Police identify potential witness from CCTV
Anita Rose was found unconscious after taking her dog, Bruce, for a walk. She died in hospital four days later.
Detectives investigating the murder of a mother-of-six who was found unconscious after taking her dog for a walk have identified one of two people in CCTV footage who they would like to speak to.
Suffolk Police released images of two people last week with an appeal for information, stressing that the pair are not suspects in the case but that officers believe they may be able to assist with inquiries.
One of them has now been identified and is assisting officers with inquiries, the force said, and police are continuing to try to identify the second person.
Anita Rose, 57, left her house to take her springer spaniel Bruce for a walk at around 5am on July 24.
Ms Rose was found unconscious near Rectory Lane in Brantham at around 6.25am with serious head injuries.
Police said she died in hospital four days later.
There have been three arrests in connection with the inquiry – a man aged in his 20s and a 45-year-old man on suspicion of murder, and a 37-year-old woman on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
All three were subsequently released on bail.
Last week, Suffolk Police released CCTV images of two potential witnesses that officers would like to speak to.
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 inquiries.
“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 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 inquiries.
“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 Ms Rose’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 Ms Rose – 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 in regards to the murder investigation is asked to contact Suffolk Police quoting 37/41580/24.
This can be done by calling 101 or online at mipp.police.uk
Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
