Murder probe after nan-of-two’s body found in burnt-out house
Eulin Hastings, 74, was pronounced dead by firemen who recovered her body from the ground-floor flat on Tuesday
A MURDER probe has been launched after a nan-of-two's body was found in her burnt-out house.
Eulin Hastings, 74, was pronounced dead by firemen who recovered her body from the ground-floor flat on Tuesday.
Detectives are now linking the beloved grandmother's murder to a break-in minutes earlier in a nearby street.
Officers who attended the burglary in South Norwood chased a man through back gardens before he was cornered on a garage roof.
Witnesses said the suspect refused to come down for five hours, demanded cigarettes and made calls on his mobile phone before police finally arrested him.
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Homicide detectives are now probing both incidents and trying to work out how Eulin died.
Friends have paid tribute to the retired midwife and flowers have been laid outside her semi-detached home.
Neighbour Janice Kentfield, 42, a care worker, told the : “She was a church going lady, a nice, normal neighbour who you would have a pleasant conversation with.
“She has one older son who would come and look after her. She was very independent and youthful. She still drove her own car, a silver Mercedes. It’s just sickening.”
Janice came home moments after fire crews arrived at Eulin's house and saw thick black smoke pouring out of the ground-floor flat.
Fire crews tried to resuscitate the 74-year-old for several minutes until paramedics arrived.
Janice added the "whole place looked like a warzone" and described the firefighters as "absolutely brilliant".
A close friend said: "She was the most loving and caring person, devoted to the church and her family who visited her regularly.
“She was born on February 14 so I used to call her ‘My Valentine’.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Detectives believe that the murder and the burglary are linked and enquiries are underway to establish the circumstances.
“Both incidents occurred during the middle of the afternoon and there is a possibility that someone may have seen something that could assist detectives with their investigation.”
A post-mortem on Mrs Hasting’s body proved inconclusive and further tests are being carried out.
Police said the man has since been bailed but still believe the two crimes are linked.
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