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UPDATED: Manslaughter probe into Margaret Briers death
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| Margaret Briers (pictured top) died after a bogus official forced his way into her home. An e-fit of the suspect police are hunting is also pictured. |
STAR readers are being urged to come forward with vital information that could help bring to justice a despicable thug who has cost a dearly loved 82-year-old grandmother her life.
Margaret Briers died in Whiston Hospital at the weekend, six days after a robber posing as a policeman forced his way into her bungalow on Caldbeck Grove, Carr Mill.
The pensioner's death has led police to this week upgrade the investigation to a manslaughter inquiry.
One of her grandchildren says the cowardly attacker "has ripped out everyone one of Margaret's family's hearts" and urged townsfolk to come forward with information.
During the ordeal at 9pm on Sunday, March 30, the bogus officer conned his way into Margaret's home after saying there was an intruder in the back yard.
He then pushed the vulnerable victim to the floor, causing her to suffer a broken hip, before he fled with just £16 from a money box.
The grandmother was left stricken until she was found by her daughter Pauline Windsor, from Moss Bank, the next morning.
A post mortem on Monday ruled Margaret had died from a chest infection and police say the illness was "directly attributable to the injuries sustained during the robbery", leading them to treat her death as manslaughter.
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| A cash tin similar to this was taken from Margaret's home |
On Monday, a St Helens man was arrested by police in connection with the incident and later released on bail. Senior officers say information from the public will now be crucial to the inquiry.
The death of Margaret, known to some friends as Peggy, has caused shock and anger on the quiet Carr Mill estate, where there is large elderly community.
Days before her death, the grandmother was interviewed by police. She gave details of the robbery and a description of the offender, prompting police to draw up an e-fit.
| R.I.P nan i hope they get the man that did this. He is a coward attacking old little ladies. He has also broken every one of my families hearts and he must not care so may he rit in hell the sick man R.I.P NAN XXX | | Posted by Ben, Moss Bank |
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Superintendent Peter Edge said: "This was a despicable crime against an elderly lady. The manslaughter of Margaret Briers will be investigated with the same rigour and discipline as a murder inquiry.
"We would urge anyone who has any information that may help us with our enquiries to contact us."
Police are seeking help to trace the metal cash tin taken from Margaret's home that may have been discarded by the crook.
The offender is described as white, in his mid-30s and 5ft 8ins to 5ft 10ins tall with a slim build. He has short brown hair and was clean shaven, with sharp features.
He was wearing a navy blue peaked cap and a coat which was buttoned up with dirty-looking brown shoes and gloves.
The property targeted by the conman is among an estate of Helena Housing bungalows. Margaret's home neighbours Carr Mill Primary School and looks out onto Carr Mill Dam.
It is set back from the road and fronted by a grassed area and trees. A lack of lighting means the area where the crook struck would have largely been in darkness.
Police say there have been recent break-ins at homes in the Carr Mill, Moss Bank and Clinkham Wood estates, but no reports of crimes where offenders have claimed to be police.
Neighbours in nearby Dunmail Avenue, meanwhile, have told the St Helens Star they have seen strangers acting suspiciously in the Carr Mill area during the past month.
Anyone with information or who thinks they may recognise the man pictured in the e-fit or knows the whereabouts of the cash tin is asked to contact St Helens CID via 0151 709 6010 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.10:00am Wednesday 9th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: ben, moss bank on 2:57pm Tue 8 Apr 08
R.I.P nan i hope they get the man that did this. He is a coward attacking old little ladies. He has also broken every one of my families hearts and he must not care so may he rit in hell the sick man R.I.P NAN XXX
ben
R.I.P nan i hope they get the man that did this. He is a coward attacking old little ladies. He has also broken every one of my families hearts and he must not care so may he rit in hell the sick man R.I.P NAN XXX
ben
Posted by: k, warrington on 4:04pm Wed 9 Apr 08
peggy was me and my family's neighbour many years ago and was a lovely lady, I hope the catch this disgrace for a human being. Rest in Peace Peggy, my condolonces to your family.
peggy was me and my family's neighbour many years ago and was a lovely lady, I hope the catch this disgrace for a human being. Rest in Peace Peggy, my condolonces to your family.
Posted by: DS on 11:37pm Wed 9 Apr 08
hope they catch this coward soon and he gets the sentence he deserves and is never a threat tom anyone again...my deepest sympathies to Peggy's family...
hope they catch this coward soon and he gets the sentence he deserves and is never a threat tom anyone again...my deepest sympathies to Peggy's family...
Posted by: ben, moss bank on 8:51pm Fri 11 Apr 08
please if you know or recognise the man above in the picture please tell the numbers required in the story above. Because to describe how my family feels is impossible. That unthoughtful and careless person has took my nan's life away and my family can't cope because for all we know my nan could have had another 10 years on her life. And how would he have liked it if it was his mum or nan. So please if you know this sick person please tell the numbers in the story. I think i would have bin able to cope with her being ill or old aged. But being murdered is so shocking.!!!!!!!!! Ben moss bank age 11
please if you know or recognise the man above in the picture please tell the numbers required in the story above. Because to describe how my family feels is impossible. That unthoughtful and careless person has took my nan's life away and my family can't cope because for all we know my nan could have had another 10 years on her life. And how would he have liked it if it was his mum or nan. So please if you know this sick person please tell the numbers in the story. I think i would have bin able to cope with her being ill or old aged. But being murdered is so shocking.!!!!!!!!! Ben moss bank age 11
Posted by: AngryDad, St.Helens on 8:47pm Sat 12 Apr 08
Peggy was a close friend and neighbor of my mum at clock face in the 70's & 80's, I thought she looked familiar so dug out my mum and dads old cine films and it's definatly her. she was a great character and very good decent woman, it didnt suprise me to hear that she fought this lowlife scumbag. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. I hope they catch this scum and charge him with murder.
Peggy was a close friend and neighbor of my mum at clock face in the 70's & 80's, I thought she looked familiar so dug out my mum and dads old cine films and it's definatly her. she was a great character and very good decent woman, it didnt suprise me to hear that she fought this lowlife scumbag. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. I hope they catch this scum and charge him with murder.
Posted by: gary on 11:40am Fri 18 Apr 08
i spoke to police last week about the tin being seen on the eastlancs near windle island, theyasked if i could show them, but ive heard nothing since, good luck hope you find the person responsible. R.I.P.
i spoke to police last week about the tin being seen on the eastlancs near windle island, theyasked if i could show them, but ive heard nothing since, good luck hope you find the person responsible. R.I.P.
Posted by: mick, moss bank on 4:46am Sat 3 May 08
No one has the rights to end a life there is only a low life that could do this she could have been 24 - 94 what time she had left on this earth was her own no one had the rights to take that away from her, only a coward could do this,we will get justice rot in hell low life.you will be old yourself one day. have a miserable life hope you have nightmares
No one has the rights to end a life there is only a low life that could do this she could have been 24 - 94 what time she had left on this earth was her own no one had the rights to take that away from her, only a coward could do this,we will get justice rot in hell low life.you will be old yourself one day. have a miserable life hope you have nightmares
Posted by: laura, moss bank on 9:53am Thu 8 May 08
R.I.P nan i miss you so much i cant wait till we catch the man that did this to you he is very sick, he had no rights to do what he did to you were all thinking of you and you will always be loved and never forgotten love you always nan x x x x x x x x love laura x x x x
R.I.P nan i miss you so much i cant wait till we catch the man that did this to you he is very sick, he had no rights to do what he did to you were all thinking of you and you will always be loved and never forgotten love you always nan x x x x x x x x love laura x x x x
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