April 16, 2002
A 77-year-old woman who was badly beaten by a robber as he stole her fish supper has died.
A murder inquiry is under way after the attack on Marie Watson in Heaton, Newcastle.
The pensioner suffered a broken right shoulder and extensive bruising to her face during the attack.
Detective Superintendent Derek Storey, leading the murder investigation, said: ‘This was an appalling unprovoked attack upon an elderly defenceless woman.’
Mrs Watson died 11 days after the attack. Her family issued a statement through police saying: ‘Our mother's death was undignified and she has gone before her time.’
Mrs Watson lived in Spencer Street, Heaton, and was walking home from the nearby Gills fish shop in Chillingham Road with a black shopping bag containing her supper.
She was within yards of her home when she was pushed violently from the side, knocking her to the ground.
She kept hold of her bag but it was wrenched from her grasp.
She saw a youth running off with the bag which has not been recovered.
The great-grandmother died at the weekend as a result of medical complications attributed to the attack.
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