Last moments of murdered woman's life to be reconstructed on TV

9:54am Tuesday 14th October 2008

THE hunt for a murderer who tortured and killed the widow of a Basingtoke coffee merchant is to go nationwide.

Detectives are planning to have the final moments of 77-year-old Georgina Edmonds' life reconstructed on national television.

It comes as the inquiry into the brutal killing in Kiln Lane, Brambridge, reaches its tenth month with the killer still at large.

In January, Mrs Edmonds, widow of Basingstoke coffee merchant Harry Edmonds, was repeatedly stabbed with a paring knife and battered over the head with a blunt instrument in her idyllic cottage on the banks of the River Itchen. Her body was found by her son and a family friend later that day.

Officers working on the investigation have always maintained they felt the killer was within the local area and had possibly confessed to a friend or family member.

Despite thousands of calls and separate lines of inquiry carried out, a prime suspect has not been identified and police fear the killer could have fled the area.

Next month police hope to have an appeal about the murder screened on BBC Crimewatch in the hope that someone with a vital piece of information will come forward and lead them to the killer.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Barton said the major crime team was in early discussions but hoped that the appeal and reconstruction would be broadcast on November 19.

"Since Mrs Edmonds' body was discovered at her home on Friday, January 11, we have been appealing through the local media and directly to the community to come forward with information. "We are extremely pleased with the response we have had and through the amount of calls we have received, it is clear that the community wants to help us find the person or people responsible for this horrific crime.

"So far this information has not led us to the person responsible which is why we are now appealing to a national audience.

"It is possible that the offender has left the area and could be living elsewhere in the country. It is also possible that they may have confessed to a friend, relative, or even a fellow criminal who may see this reconstruction.

"We hope this national appeal, along with the £20,000 reward still being offered by Mrs Edmonds' family, will bring fresh information forward."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Operation Columbian incident room on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.