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Police hunt for OAP murder weapon | |
(about 18 hours later) | |
Police investigating the murder of a pensioner are searching for a knife or screwdriver used to stab her in the street as she waited for a lift. | Police investigating the murder of a pensioner are searching for a knife or screwdriver used to stab her in the street as she waited for a lift. |
Grandmother Gwen Poole, 66, from Llanbradach, Caerphilly was attacked at 2005 GMT on Tuesday as she made her way to a skittles match in another village. | Grandmother Gwen Poole, 66, from Llanbradach, Caerphilly was attacked at 2005 GMT on Tuesday as she made her way to a skittles match in another village. |
Her sister Phyllis Sweet said the family had been left "numb", adding: "Why? That is all I can ask." | Her sister Phyllis Sweet said the family had been left "numb", adding: "Why? That is all I can ask." |
A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. | A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. |
Gwent Police investigating said they are now looking for a "narrow bladed weapon, possibly a screwdriver or a knife". | Gwent Police investigating said they are now looking for a "narrow bladed weapon, possibly a screwdriver or a knife". |
She was kind, loving and considerate. She wouldn't do anybody a bad turn Janet Bradshaw, friend on Gwen Poole | |
Supt Jon Burley said: "We obviously cordoned off the scene and conducted a search in the darkness (last night) and we will be repeating that today. | Supt Jon Burley said: "We obviously cordoned off the scene and conducted a search in the darkness (last night) and we will be repeating that today. |
"The arrest was made by uniformed officers about 30 minutes after the incident was reported. | "The arrest was made by uniformed officers about 30 minutes after the incident was reported. |
"The officers saw him near a bus stop and, as officers went to stop him, he made off." | "The officers saw him near a bus stop and, as officers went to stop him, he made off." |
He said that the suspect did not struggle on arrest. | He said that the suspect did not struggle on arrest. |
There are currently 70 officers working on the case. | There are currently 70 officers working on the case. |
"We are following lines of inquiry which may lead to the weapon," added the officer. | "We are following lines of inquiry which may lead to the weapon," added the officer. |
Mrs Poole was in De Winton Terrace waiting for a lift to take her to a skittles match in Bedwas near Caerphilly. | Mrs Poole was in De Winton Terrace waiting for a lift to take her to a skittles match in Bedwas near Caerphilly. |
Police have cordoned off the road for investigations | Police have cordoned off the road for investigations |
Following the attack, it was reported that she managed to get to her son's house before the ambulance was called. | Following the attack, it was reported that she managed to get to her son's house before the ambulance was called. |
She was taken to hospital in Cardiff with wounds to her upper body but died later. | She was taken to hospital in Cardiff with wounds to her upper body but died later. |
Mrs Sweet said Mrs Poole had been waiting for a lift from one of her team mates at the Llanbradach social club's women's skittle team when she was attacked. | Mrs Sweet said Mrs Poole had been waiting for a lift from one of her team mates at the Llanbradach social club's women's skittle team when she was attacked. |
She said her sister was due to celebrate her 67th birthday next week. "She was enjoying her retirement," said Mrs Sweet. | She said her sister was due to celebrate her 67th birthday next week. "She was enjoying her retirement," said Mrs Sweet. |
"Why? That is all I can ask. She didn't provoke anybody." | "Why? That is all I can ask. She didn't provoke anybody." |
She added: "There is no reason for it whatsoever. They (Mrs Poole's sons Ian and Keith) are not coping. You just get numb and it hits you for six." | She added: "There is no reason for it whatsoever. They (Mrs Poole's sons Ian and Keith) are not coping. You just get numb and it hits you for six." |
Fellow skittle player Janet Bradshaw said the team had been due to play at the Green Fly club in the nearby village of Bedwas when the incident happened. | Fellow skittle player Janet Bradshaw said the team had been due to play at the Green Fly club in the nearby village of Bedwas when the incident happened. |
She said everyone in the close-knit community had been stunned by the tragedy. | She said everyone in the close-knit community had been stunned by the tragedy. |
"She was a friend for life," said Mrs Bradshaw, 63. | "She was a friend for life," said Mrs Bradshaw, 63. |
"She was kind, loving and considerate. She wouldn't do anybody a bad turn. I have lived here all my life and I have never been worried about walking out but now I'm really frightened." | "She was kind, loving and considerate. She wouldn't do anybody a bad turn. I have lived here all my life and I have never been worried about walking out but now I'm really frightened." |
Mrs Bradshaw said she would often accompany Mrs Poole on weekends away with the skittle team and worked with her in some local factories before their retirement. | Mrs Bradshaw said she would often accompany Mrs Poole on weekends away with the skittle team and worked with her in some local factories before their retirement. |
"We are all devastated," added Mrs Bradshaw. | "We are all devastated," added Mrs Bradshaw. |
Chris Eatwell, steward at the Llanbradach social club, said people were in tears last night when the news came through. | Chris Eatwell, steward at the Llanbradach social club, said people were in tears last night when the news came through. |
"We were in the middle of the quiz when we heard," said Mr Eatwell. "We knew by then that she had been stabbed but the news didn't filter through that she had died until about 10.30pm. | "We were in the middle of the quiz when we heard," said Mr Eatwell. "We knew by then that she had been stabbed but the news didn't filter through that she had died until about 10.30pm. |
"We decided to call it a night and the club members were leaving in tears." | "We decided to call it a night and the club members were leaving in tears." |
He added: "She was a regular at the club, coming here on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. She was bubbly, generous and had a heart of gold." | He added: "She was a regular at the club, coming here on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. She was bubbly, generous and had a heart of gold." |
Mrs Poole's son, Keith, is the vice chairman of the club. | Mrs Poole's son, Keith, is the vice chairman of the club. |
Supt Jon Burley appealed for witnesses to come forward and said patrols had been increased in the area. | Supt Jon Burley appealed for witnesses to come forward and said patrols had been increased in the area. |
"This is an unusual and tragic incident and it is not believed to be domestic-related. However, we are trying to establish the circumstances that led to the death of Mrs Poole," he said. | "This is an unusual and tragic incident and it is not believed to be domestic-related. However, we are trying to establish the circumstances that led to the death of Mrs Poole," he said. |
"It is known that she was waiting for a lift on her way to a local skittles club when the incident occurred. | "It is known that she was waiting for a lift on her way to a local skittles club when the incident occurred. |
"We are appealing for anyone who was in the vicinity of De Winton Terrace, including the lanes behind the main road, or on their way to the De Winton Pub in the area between 6.30pm and 9pm last night and saw anyone acting suspiciously to come forward." | "We are appealing for anyone who was in the vicinity of De Winton Terrace, including the lanes behind the main road, or on their way to the De Winton Pub in the area between 6.30pm and 9pm last night and saw anyone acting suspiciously to come forward." |
"Our thoughts are with the family of Gwen Poole at this time and we have specially trained officers offering them support," he added. | "Our thoughts are with the family of Gwen Poole at this time and we have specially trained officers offering them support," he added. |
A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Wednesday. | A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Wednesday. |
The arrested man is from New Tredegar in the northern part of Caerphilly county. He remains in police custody and is being questioned. | The arrested man is from New Tredegar in the northern part of Caerphilly county. He remains in police custody and is being questioned. |
Anybody with information about the murder is asked to contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. | Anybody with information about the murder is asked to contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. |