Widow's murder anniversary appeal

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Detectives investigating the murder of a 65-year-old widow are making a fresh appeal for information a year after she was found dead at her home.

The body of Joyce Sutton was discovered at her house in Skewen, near Neath, early on 11 January last year.

She had suffered serious head injuries during an attack for which police have said there is no obvious motive.

Making a new appeal for information, police said they "remain confident" that Mrs Sutton's killer will be found.

Mrs Sutton, a widow with one son, had lived in the Skewen area for more than 30 years.

She was found dead at her home in Winifred Road in the village at 0800 GMT on 11 January 2006.

Despite a major investigation by South Wales Police, including numerous public appeals and the offer of a £20,000 reward, the killer has not been found.

'Examine conscience'

Making a new appeal for information on the anniversary of the murder, detective superintendent Adrian Hogg said: "I remain confident that the results from our forensic work together with information from the public will lead us to the killer of Joyce Sutton."

Detectives have spoken to more than 4,000 people and have taken 1,127 statements.

A major police inquiry followed Mrs Sutton's murder

Around 2,800 properties have been visited as part of house-to-house inquiries and more than 4,000 exhibits have been recovered.

Some of Mrs Sutton's clothes, which went missing from her house prior to the death, have still not been recovered and no murder weapon has ever been found.

"We would still appeal to anyone who has any information regarding this murder, the missing clothes or the murder weapon, to get in touch with police, no matter how insignificant they feel the information is," added Det Supt Hogg.

"It is likely that whoever has committed this murder would have confided in someone and I would ask them to examine their conscience one year after this terrible incident and come forward in confidence and tell police what they know."

'Shocking incident'

Divisional commander for Neath Port Talbot, superintendent Cliff Filer, said Mrs Sutton's death had a significant impact on the community in Skewen.

Extra patrols were set up by police in the aftermath of the murder in an attempt to reassure people in the village.

"This was a shocking incident for a close-knit community such as Skewen and we have been working hard to reassure the community," said Supt Filer.

"I can reassure the community that the investigation is very much ongoing and the officers are working tirelessly to bring the killer of Joyce Sutton to justice."

Detectives still want to speak to anyone who was in the Winifred Road area between 1930 GMT on 10 January and 2030 GMT on 11 January.

Police added they still want to speak to two youths wearing hooded tops who were seen in the area at around 0030 GMT on 11 January.

Anyone with information can contact the incident room on 01639 889127 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.