Detectives are appealing for information after a 79-year-old woman was brutally murdered in her village home.

Joan Albert was found dead by neighbours in the hall of her home in the small Essex-Suffolk border village of Capel St Mary shortly after 10am on Sunday.

A post mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist revealed she died of multiple stab wounds.

Mrs Albert was the aunt of Paul Tuckwell, owner of P Tuckwell agricultural engineers in Dedham Road, Ardleigh.

Detectives have set up a murder incident room at Suffolk Police headquarters at Martlesham Heath, with a murder telephone hotline number of 01473 613777.

Det Supt Roy Lambert, who is leading the inquiry, said: "This was a brutal attack on a frail, defenceless woman. The elderly victim - who lived alone - was murdered in her own home by an attacker who repeatedly stabbed her."

Detectives do not have a clear indication of the motive of the attack, but say it is possible it was a bungled burglary.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 01473 613777 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Published Tuesday December 18, 2001