Kentish Express Ashford & District
HUNT FOR KILLER OF PSCO JULIA JAMES -
Police say there are still no identified suspects nor a clear motive for the brutal murder of PCSO Julia James.
The 53-year-old was found dead with significant head injuries on the edge of woodland in Snowdown last Tuesday afternoon, having suffered fatal head injuries.
Addressing journalists at the Aylesham Community Centre on Friday morning, Assistant Chief Constable Tom Richards confirmed she has been found by more than one person at the edge of Ackholt Wood, with her Jack Russell dog by her side.
A post mortem revealed she died from serious head injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
Mr Richards said he could not rule out the possibility she had been killed by a complete stranger.
He said: “That would be incredibly rare, but I have to concede that is a possibility,” adding: “We do not at this stage have any identified suspects.
“We are keeping all options open to us while we fully investigate the circumstances and try to understand what happened.
“We do not at this stage understand the motive for this attack.
“Julia was not on duty at the time of this incident. She was not in uniform. As with many people in the current climate, she was working from home that day.
She was walking her dog.
“Many local and wider members of the community have come forward with incredibly useful, important information which is helping us piece together what happened.”
Officers have been in surrounding woodland carrying out meticulous searches for evidence.
It is understood the National Crime Agency has been drafted in to help with the investigation.
Officers have set up in a tent in Aylesham where people can share information.
Mr Richards added: “She has died from blunt trauma to the head. I’m not in a position, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to speak about, precise weapons while we examine the circumstances.”
He revealed Mrs James had most recently been working with domestic violence victims and was based at Canterbury police station.
He said it was a possibility she may have been attacked by someone she encountered in her line of work.
“We’re considering all possible motivations and all options,” he said.
‘Julia was not on duty at the time, she was not in uniform. She was
walking her dog’
Anyone who may have seen something unusual or suspicious is urged to contact Kent Police on 0800 0514526.