Police chase leads after Wakefield gran's arson murder
Published Date:
26 November 2008
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a Wakefield gran killed in an arson attack say they are still searching for the key piece of evidence that will catch her killer.
Just over a fortnight after 81-year-old Léa Brooke was killed at her home at The Old Coach House, Sandal Grange Farm, on Walton Lane, Sandal, Wakefield, police are still chasing a number of leads they hope will bring her murderer to justice.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Dave Pervin, of the Force's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "We are continuing to make enquiries to try and establish a motive for the attack as well as finding out what Léa did in her last hours.
"We know she received a phone call and chatted to one of her friends at around 8pm and it was her routine to go to bed between 11pm and midnight. We have had a few calls from members of the public - but we are still looking for that vital piece of information which could lead us to the killer."
The fire happened in the early hours of Monday November 10.
At around 1.30am that morning, someone poured a flammable substance through the letterbox and ignited it.
The huge blaze that followed gutted the 25-year-old building and it took dozens of firefighters to bring the flames under control.
They later recovered Mrs Brooke's body from the house.
After a public appeal last week, police have managed to trace and speak to the driver of a white Peugeot hatchback car travelling along Walton Lane at the time of the blaze.
Images taken from cameras fitted on West Yorkshire Fire Service appliances responding to the fire also show a man walking along Walton Lane - towards Barnsley Road - on the right hand side pavement close to the turning into Sandal Grange Farm. Police are still trying to trace him.
Police are also trying to identify a white box van which was seen to go down the drive to Mrs Brooke's home at around 4.30pm on Sunday November 9. It is described as being rusty on top.
Det Spt Pervin added: "The person responsible would possibly have burned themselves or their clothing during the act - or they could possibly have a smell of accelerant on their clothing. We would ask people to think if they know this person or have suspicions about someone and to contact us immediately."
Mrs Brooke was originally from Belgium and settled in Wakefield almost 60 years ago after meeting her late husband Lindsay during the Second World War.
As well as her five adult children she had 12 grandchildren.
She was an active member of the Inner Wheel Club of Wakefield and had been the district president. She was also a member of the Ladies' Luncheon Club, The Flower Club and The Civic Society.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room at West Yorkshire Police via 0845 6060606 - reference HMET Sandal Fire, SIO Det Supt Pervin, Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or text to 07786 200 806 followed by "Sandal Fire" and your message.
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Last Updated:
26 November 2008 8:48 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Leeds