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Shock over elderly woman's murder Ex-offenders quizzed over murder
(about 2 hours later)
Police are continuing to investigate the murder of a 77-year-old woman who was found at a house in Hampshire. Ex-offenders living at a hostel close to where an elderly woman was found dead will be questioned as part of the murder investigation, police said.
Some 30 police officers are involved in the inquiry after the discovery at a property in Otterbourne, near Winchester, on Friday evening. The body of the 77-year-old was found at a house in the Hampshire village of Otterbourne on Friday evening.
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out. There are unconfirmed reports the woman had been stabbed. No-one from nearby Elderfield House is being treated as a suspect but residents will be spoken to during house-to-house inquiries, police said.
Local councillor Richard Oldham said the close-knit community had been left in shock by the incident. A spokeswoman also stressed they had not made any arrests.
Some 30 police officers are involved in the inquiry after the discovery of the body at the house in Kiln Lane.
A post-mortem examination was being carried out on Saturday. There are unconfirmed reports the woman had been stabbed.
We have no one arrested and no suspects Police spokeswoman
Scenes of crimes officers spent the night at the scene and police are to carry out house-to-house inquiries.
Searches of the property were conducted by specialist officers on Saturday and Kiln Lane, which links the villages of Otterbourne and Brambridge, has been cordoned off.
Elderfield House, also on Kiln Lane, is a hostel for ex-offenders, run by Christian charity The Langley House Trust.
"We have no reason to suspect at this time anyone from Elderfield is responsible," a spokeswoman for the police said.
"We have no one arrested and no suspects."
She said the woman lived alone at the house and had a grown up son who lived nearby. She was last seen on Friday.
'Tremendous loss''Tremendous loss'
Local councillor Richard Oldham said the close-knit community had been left in shock by the incident.
Mr Oldham, chairman of Otterbourne Parish Council, said: "It's not the place you would normally expect this type of incident to happen."Mr Oldham, chairman of Otterbourne Parish Council, said: "It's not the place you would normally expect this type of incident to happen."
He added: "It's a fairly small... very peaceful community with a history of not a lot happening. He added: "It's a fairly small... very peaceful community with a history of not a lot happening."
"It's a tremendous loss to her family. The sympathy of the village will go out to her because many people in the village will undoubtedly have known her."
Scene of crime officers were at the location during the night and Hampshire Police have appealed for witnesses.
Det Supt Shirley Dinnell, leading the investigation, said: "This kind of crime is very rare in Hampshire and even more unusual in a rural area such as this.Det Supt Shirley Dinnell, leading the investigation, said: "This kind of crime is very rare in Hampshire and even more unusual in a rural area such as this.
"We need to find who was responsible for the murder as soon as possible.""We need to find who was responsible for the murder as soon as possible."
Prayers will be said at a local church on Sunday. The reverend Alan Gordon said he and his congregation will be remembering those affected. Prayers will be said at a local church on Sunday. The Reverend Alan Gordon said he and his congregation will be remembering those affected.
"We will be in touch with the parish representatives to convey our sympathies," he said."We will be in touch with the parish representatives to convey our sympathies," he said.