DERBY: Man arrested on suspicion of murder after death of 100-year-old mugging victim
A MAN was last night being held on suspicion of murdering a 100year-old widow who suffered a broken neck after being mugged at the end of her street.
Zofija Kaczan, known as Sophie, died in hospital on Wednesday – nine days after suffering multiple injuries when she was pounced on from behind and thrown to the pavement. Her attacker escaped with her green imitation leather handbag.
Derbyshire Police said a 39-yearold man who had previously been arrested on suspicion of robbery had been rearrested on suspicion of the murder of Mrs Kaczan in Normanton, Derby. Yesterday, a friend of Mrs Kaczan told how the widow had survived a forced labour camp after the Nazis invaded Poland to build a new life for herself in the UK with her late husband Mikolaj.
He was awarded a medal from the Polish armed forces for his wartime service in the pivotal Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy.
Anna Krepa, 83, from Littleover, Derby, said: ‘Sophie spoke about her ordeal occasionally, but she was understandably bitter about what she had been through. She was a very proud woman. She was starting to lose her balance towards the end but she would not use a walking stick. She would get the bus to Littleover every Thursday to draw her pension.’
Mrs Kaczan, a devout Roman Catholic, was making her usual morning walk to church when she was attacked on May 28.
A fellow parishioner and friend found her moments later, covered in blood and still clutching the handbag’s gold strap. The mugger may have got away with up to £1,000.
Neighbours said an alleyway at the end of her road is regularly used by drug addicts.