88-year-old woman in Hove was murdered, police believe (From The Argus)

88-year-old woman in Hove was murdered, police believe

9:10am Thursday 3rd January 2013 in News By Anna Roberts , Crime reporter

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an 88-year-old woman was found dead this morning.

Major crime detectives are investigating her death.

The woman was discovered dead at the doorstep of an address in Baltimore Court, The Drive, Hove, at 7am.

She lived in the property and was discovered by a member of the public.

Police were called by the ambulance service.

This morning the whole area cordoned was off but people living in Baltimore Court were allowed to come in and out from the back door.

There was an ambulance, seven police cars and a scenes of crime car.

A window on the second floor was open. Detective Inspector Mick Jones told The Argus he could not say whether the lady had fallen from it.

It is believed the woman was in her nightwear when she found.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire Pridgeon, of Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, is leading the investigation.

She said: "Detectives are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death of the woman and I would appeal for anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in The Drive before 7am this morning to contact police."

Detectives remain at the scene in The Drive this afternoon. A post mortem is due to be held late tomorrow afternoon.

A 49-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of murder in Brighton this afternoon.

Anyone with information which may assist police with their enquiries is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Atlantic.

For tributes to the victim and more on this story see tomorrow's Argus.