Appeal for DNA samples to solve grisly murder of Scots artist

Borders-based Valerie Graves had significant head and facial injuries when she was discovered in the ground-floor bedroom of a waterside house in Bosham, on the English south coast.

She was killed while she house-sat for friends in the coastal village that was featured in an episode of the ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders.

Ms Graves, 55, had moved from Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders, to the West Sussex village just two months previously to care for her 87-year-old mother.

Now police have returned to the area of the killing in their latest attempt to find any evidence that might lead them to what happened.

She was house-sitting with her sister Jan, mother Eileen and her sister's partner, Nigel Acres in a home in Smugglers Lane while the owners of the 1.6m property were spending Christmas in Costa Rica.

Ms Graves had been repeatedly hit on the head and face with the hammer. She was discovered by her sister.

Police were yesterday in Smugglers Lane and nearby Bosham Lane to give residents and visitors the chance to pass on any information that might lead to a breakthrough. They were due to be in the area again from 10am today.

They have asked all men who visit, work or live in the area to voluntarily attend DNA screening sessions.

Officers handed out leaflets and put up posters asking "all men aged over 17 who live, work or visit Bosham to help police find Valerie's killer by providing a simple DNA mouth swab and thumbprint" to "enable police to eliminate as many men as possible from the inquiry".

The drop-in sessions will take place at the Millstream Hotel in Bosham between January 21 and 29, February 2 and 7, and February 10 and 15, police said.

Original post:
Appeal for DNA samples to solve grisly murder of Scots artist