UK & World News
- 30 May 2012, 2:26
Murder Inquiry After Beaten Grandmother Dies
Detectives are treating the "despicable" attack on 93-year-old Emma Winnall as murder after she died of the injuries sustained when beaten in her own bed earlier this month.
The grandmother suffered a fractured skull, broken arm and severed finger in the attack that led to her family releasing a picture of her injuries in the hope it would persuade people with information to come forward.
Superintendent Richard Baker from West Midlands Police said: "This is desperately sad news... our condolences go out to Emma's family and friends.
"Clearly, this has now become a murder inquiry. But given the extent of Emma's injuries, combined with her age and vulnerability, this investigation has always been treated with the same level of seriousness as a murder investigation."
The attack appalled people living nearby on the quiet residential estate in Moseley, Birmingham. There were no obvious signs of anyone forcing their way into the elderly lady's ground floor flat.
In the days that followed the beating Mrs Winnall's children appealed for information.
Her daughter Joyce Blencoe told a news conference: "It's broken my heart to hear my frail and defenceless mum in hospital manage to say she was screaming for help and no one came.
"To see your mum viciously beaten and covered in blood is the most horrific nightmare."
Mrs Winnall died in the early hours of Tuesday after spending a month in hospital. A post-mortem examination will now be carried out.
Supt Baker said: "We were able to speak to Mrs Winnall in hospital on two occasions in the days following her ordeal; the information she provided continues to form part of our investigation.
"No one capable of carrying out such a despicable attack deserves protecting - I'm asking people to look into their consciences and if they have any suspicions about who may be responsible to contact police."
A 56-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man from the Hall Green area were arrested in connection with the attack earlier this month but have since been released on police bail.
Update:
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what do you think?
Benjamin Burton
The people that did this need to be charged with Murder now not some 2nd rate charge! When will the Justice system in the UK be as harsh as the USA with proper sentances. Makes me sick.
Tracey Simmonds
RIP Emma. What a shocking ending to a long life.
Sandra Dianne Evans
these thugs need to be put down.
Brian Holmes
How could anyone do that! I hope when they catch this murderer that he will never see daylight again. I tend to be against hanging but I feel like making an exception.
Lorgar Aurelian
That's murder now. Not manslaughter or anything else, murder plain and simple. All the police do is round up every single heroin, crack or meth user in the city and the guilty party will be caught. Easy then to find the culprit.
roy winbow
I believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, our justice system is far to lax, before locking them up and throwing away the key these so called people, who don't like their human rights being invaded deserve a really good beating. Harsh that may be but something has to be done to make villians realise that they are not going to get a soft time with great handout when they have done their time, if penelties were harder maybe a lot of law breakers would think more before they do the crime
David Wragg
Well said. Just shows how far out of touch with public sentiment our elected leaders really are.
Tony Robbins
93 yrs this lady lived for, through more problems and hardships that most of us will ever know, how cheap is life to some morons, this is so depressing,
David Wragg
So sad. RIP. I agree with Lorgar, it is murder. It seems that we are regressing and becoming less civilised. Our society has been turned inside out, with a breakdown in discipline and any sense of honesty or responsibility, worsened by mass immigration, poor schools and terrible parenting.
Lorgar Aurelian
Indeed. It can't be coincidence that this escalating breakdown in society just happens at the same time as needle exchange programmes, reward of idleness and useless education.
Jonny Smith
Rabies is a horrible disease that no one should have to die from, R.I.P
Roberta Grieve
????
aa aa
Yes, i don't doubt rabies is a horrible disease. Let's keep to the point. This old lady was beaten up in her bed, and died from her injuries. Are you on the same page as us? Are you on the same planet ? I suspect you're just trying to be funny, well if you are, you need medical help.
Roberta Grieve
I agree with every comment so far made. These namby pamby goverments that we have say that long sentences do not work, They bloody will if they are long enough .WHEN are they going to wake up ? LIFE SHOULD MEAN LIFE.----Jimmy@Brighton.
Stephen Dee
This was a cowardly attack on a defenceless old lady. We have a duty to punish the culprits in the strongest possible way but I fear that once again, our justice system will fail miserably. I do wish sometimes that we could adopt the views of some other parts of the World and really make the culprits pay in such a way that it deters anyone from ever even considering a crime like this in Britain.
keith harrison
such a tradgedy to live to such a good age only to be killed like that,my sincere deepest sympathy to all the family
Marilyn Francis
So sad that her life has ended in such horrendous way R.I.P. lovely lady, Please don't let the low life vermin get away with this, no soft sentence to be given. deepest sympathy to your'e family at this terrible time xx
Name witheld
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Valerie Wood
Welcome to the UK - a place where the elderly cannot sleep safely in their beds. Civilized country. Yeah dream on. RIP Emma xx
Sue J
so sad, what that poor woman went through at her age, at any age is horrific, my heart goes out to the family, and the person or people who did this shouldn't be allowed to walk this earth. To get to 93 and have your life end like this is tragic - i hope she is resting in peace now.
Eric Phoenix
The culprit should be jail for LIFE and NOT be released on for good behaviour. LIFE should mean LIFE. Jails should have no luxuries i.e. TV, Internet, good food... it should been very basic stuff the will just surfice. Surely the British Isles must a remote island somewhere, where these types of people can be housed/jailed... where society can forget about them. Letting them live in misery is only half of the punishment they really deserve.
aa aa
This may sound very harsh, by UK standards. But i hope the culprits get a damn good counselling. What they need is rehabilitation, and tough love.
HARLEY1974
10:53am on 29/5/2012
Such a shame.Hope the callous vermin that did this get a very long and hard time locked up.R.I.P.