A 77-year-old woman found dead in her bed with head injuries was unlawfully killed, a coroner has ruled.

The inquest yesterday (Wednesday) heard that the crime remains unsolved nearly a year later.

Chelmsford Coroner's Court was told widow Violet Dunderdale, of Archers Way, Galleywood, Chelmsford, was found by her 35-year-old grandson Edward Dunderdale at 6.30am on July 26 last year.

A post mortem examination revealed Mrs Dunderdale died from head injuries.

Mr Dunderdale, who lived with his father and mother nearby, found the body and alerted his mother, Pat Dunderdale.

She said: "My son ran in and told me 'Nan is dead, she is not breathing at all'."

Investigating officer Det Supt Steve Reynolds said police had arrived at the house at 7am.

"A search of the scene revealed that there was no forced entry and nothing appeared to have been stolen. A search of the area outside the house found a hammer hidden in a bush. The hammer was bloodstained," added Mr Reynolds.

Forensic tests showed the hammer was used to kill Violet Dunderdale.

Police conducted house-to-house inquiries and some neighbours reported a disturbance at Violet Dunderdale's three-bedroomed terraced home at 3am.

Mr Reynolds added: "Our inquiry suggests that the attacker was well-known to the deceased."

Essex Coroner Dr Malcolm Weir said: "The hammer found near the scene was the weapon used to inflict the injuries. It's not part of the inquest to find who the deceased was killed by, but there is no doubt that the deceased was killed unlawfully."

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