Former district councillor Ken Walker with his wife Freda Walker.
(Picture: PA)A suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murdering an 86-year-old woman in a “horrendous” attack which also left her husband with critical injuries.
Freda Walker was pronounced dead at her home in Langwith Junction, Shirebrook, near Bolsover in Derbyshire, on Saturday, while 88-year-old town councillor Kenneth Walker was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition.
Addressing a press conference at the scene on Thursday, Assistant Chief Constable Dave Kirby said a 33-year-old man from Warsop, Nottinghamshire, had been detained in the early hours of Thursday on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
Mr Kirby has previously described the suspected burglary at the couple’s home in Station Road as a “horrific” crime.
Speaking at the scene on Thursday, Mr Kirby said: “In the early hours of this morning, my officers have arrested a 33-year-old man in Warsop, Nottinghamshire, on suspicion of the murder of Freda Walker and the attempted murder of Ken Walker.
“Freda, of course, aged 86, was killed here on Station Road at Langwith Junction, and Ken, 88, remains in a critical condition in hospital.
“Of course, our thoughts remain with him and friends and family of Ken and Freda.
“This comes after an intense period of investigation and a huge amount of work done by officers and staff of the Derbyshire Constabulary and regional teams working with us.”
Asked if he could speak about the motive for the attack, Assistant Chief Constable Dave Kirby said: “One of the leading lines of inquiry is that it may have been a burglary, and that remains a leading line of inquiry.
“The man was arrested in the early hours and, as you would expect, there will be interviews and so on, and if we can give any more information about motive then we will do – but at this time we can’t be conclusive.”
Questioned on whether they were looking for anyone else in connection with the incident, the officer added: “We can’t rule out the involvement of anybody else, but at the moment we are focusing our inquiries on this particular man we’ve arrested.
“As soon as we can update, particularly if the community are worried about any potential further risk to them about whether there might be somebody else, then we will give that update.”
