Police following three leads in murder hunt
THE DETECTIVE leading the hunt for the man who brutally attacked 87-year-old Eileen Blane is looking to eliminate three men spotted by witnesses - who may be the same person.
Detective Inspector John Mulvihill is in charge of Operation Crown, now a murder inquiry after Eileen’s death was connected with her injuries.
He believes Eileen’s assailant, who kicked and punched her before wrenching a £20 gold ring from her finger and fleeing with just £30, must have been a ‘desperate opportunist’ either seeking cash for drugs or to pay off debts. The descriptions of three men detectives are looking to speak to are:
A man ‘acting suspiciously’ on Chatsworth Road in Stretford at around 1.30pm on the afternoon Eileen was attacked. It is thought he was wearing a hooded coat or top and was seen walking up and down driveways on Chatsworth Road.
A man who was seen shopping in the Co-op on Barton Road in Stretford. He was seen at around 2.30pm. He entered the shop and bought toilet paper. The man was white, in his late teens to early 20s
and of slim build. He was wearing a dark coloured Nike coat with the hood up.
A man seen on Castleton Avenue the road Eileen lived on - near the junction with Bradwell Avenue at around 3pm. Police say he was white, in his late teens or early 20s, of slim build, with ‘gaunt’ features and sandy brown ‘gingerish’ hair, longer on top and shorter at the back and sides.
“Eileen didn’t stand a chance,” said Det Insp Mulvihill. “She was a defenceless lady in her own home. We need to bring the person responsible for Eileen’s death to justice.”
On February 3, 2017, Eileen had been shopping at her local Co-op, between 11.30am and 12.05pm.
She then walked home with her shopping trolley wearing a distinctive pink coat.
Eileen described her attacker as being a white man, around 5ft 8ins, of slim build. She said he was wearing a dark blue hooded coat.
Anyone with information is asked to call 0161 856 9283/6777 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.