Police officers, mental health staff, probation and prison officers have all been asked to come forward to help solve the murder of a house sitter following a TV appeal.

Detective Superintendent Nick May of Sussex Police made the appeal on BBC1’s Crimewatch programme last night in a bid for further information to find the killer of Valerie Graves.

The 55-year-old was attacked as she house sat in a £1.4 million waterside mansion in Smugglers Lane, Bosham, near Chichester on December 30.

Police believe she was bludgeoned to death with a steel hammer and have asked anyone who may have lost a distinctive red and black handled claw hammer to come forward.

Anyone with infomormation is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 or Crimewatch on 0500 600 600.

 

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