The 11-year-old grandson of murdered widow Jean Dicker broke down in tears as he made an emotional plea for her killer to be caught.
Michael Knight is comforted as he appeals for information to catch the killer of his grandmother
Just one day before the first anniversary of the 58-year-old's death, Michael Knight braved the cameras in the hope that it could lead to the vital piece of information police need to bring the killer to justice.
"It's been a strange year without nan," he said. "I used to see her often. She was a very kind person. I don't know how she died, but I do know that someone hurt her.
"It would be nice if the police could catch them."
Mrs Dicker's body was discovered in the hallway of her bungalow in Craigfield Avenue, Clacton, on January 29 last year.
She was found by her 34-year-old son, Steve, on his return to the home he shared with his mother.
A post-mortem examination revealed the former Colchester traffic warden died from severe head injuries.
Two people, a 26-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, were arrested in connection with Mrs Dicker's murder in November. They were released without charge earlier this month.
Tracy Kinton, Mrs Dicker's daughter and Michael's mother, said the past 12 months had been difficult.
"I never thought I would be sitting here again making an appeal to you once more," she said.
"They say time is a great healer, but mum's death will be with us for the rest of our lives. If we could catch the persons responsible, then at least justice would be done."
Published Thursday January 29, 2004
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