Brantham dog walker murder suspect released on bail

A man questioned in connection with the murder of a dog walker has been released on bail.

Suffolk Police were given more time to hold him following his arrest on suspicion of murdering Anita Rose in Brantham.

The 57-year-old woman had been walking her pet to Rectory Lane on 24 July before she was found unconscious with serious head injuries.

She died in hospital on Sunday and a man in his 20s was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder.

He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning and has since been released on bail until 24 October with conditions, including not to enter Brantham and Manningtree.

Detectives were previously given an extra 12 hours to question him but applied for a warrant granting them an additional 36 hours.

Previously, a 45-year-old man was questioned on suspicion of murder while a 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

They were both released on bail with conditions to return to police in October.

Officers believe Ms Rose left her house at 05:00 BST to take her springer spaniel, Bruce, on their usual walk in the area.

A member of the public then found her at 06:25 on a track road close to a railway line with her dog still by her side.

She was unconscious and found to have serious head injuries before the police arrived shortly after 08:00 and a cordon was set up.

Ms Rose was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where she died four days later.

A Home Office port-mortem examination was carried out on Monday but was unable to establish a cause of death.

Police said further tests would be carried out.

Investigators are working to find a missing pink zip-up jacket Ms Rose was wearing prior to the incident.

Det Supt Mike Brown said previously it “could hold key information or evidence”