‘Burglar’ murders ‘wife of former town mayor’ and leaves him fighting for life

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Police have launched a murder investigation after an 88-year-old woman was killed and her husband, 88, suffered life-threatening injuries during an attempted burglary at their village home.

Ambulance crews were called to Langwith Junction, Derbyshire, at 9.30am on Saturday after receiving reports of a couple with serious injuries.

When they arrived at the semi-detached property, in Station Road, they found the woman dead and her husband badly hurt.

She has been named locally as Freda Walker while her husband Kenneth was rushed to hospital where he is being treated for ‘life-threatening injuries’. They were described as ‘lovely people’.

Mr Walker sits on Shirebrook Town Council, representing the Shirebrook Langwith Ward and is a retired mining safety inspector who celebrated his 88th birthday on Thursday.

Last month, Mr Walker was awarded an honoury status for his service to Bolsover District Council.

Derbyshire Police launched a murder investigation but have not yet confirmed whether they are looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Police say the family of the couple have been made aware and are being supported by specialist officers.

Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Hayley Barnett, said: ‘This is an understandably shocking incident for the community in Langwith Junction and our thoughts are with everyone affected – in particular those family and friends of the man and woman.

‘Residents in and around Station Road will see an increased police presence in the coming days and I want to reassure all those in the area that all force resources, as well as regional colleagues from the EMSOU Major Crime team, are working to understand the full circumstances of this incident.

‘I would urge anyone who has any information about the incident to contact the force, in confidence, as a matter of urgency.’

Bolsover MP Mark Fletcher described the incident as ‘very serious and sad’, adding: ‘My thoughts are with all those affected and I will continue to work with the authorities over the coming days.’

Steve Fritchley, the leader of Bolsover District Council, who has known Mr Walker for 38 years, told MailOnline: ‘I’m saddened and shocked to hear about the attack on him and his wife Freda.

‘They represented the Council as Chair and consort of the Bolsover for some years and were lovely people.

‘Only in the last month Ken, along with other ex local councillors, was awarded Honorary Alderman status for his service to Bolsover District Council.

‘Let us hope that the culprits are found and arrested quickly.’

Residents and friends of the couple expressed shock today.

A dog walker, who passes through Station Road every Sunday morning, was a friend of the couple.

He said: ‘This is very quiet area. I was an acquaintance of Kenneth and Freda. They were very nice people.

‘Kenneth used to be a local councillor heavily involved in the area.

‘A long time ago, he was the Mayor of Bolsover or Chesterfield I think, one of the two.

‘They were always a nice couple and ready to speak to you. I spoke to Mrs Walker regularly as I walk the dog through here – more so in the summer.

‘Yesterday, I had been fishing all day and came home and heard what had happened and my partner told me that there had been an attack in their house.

‘Then I found out Ken is critical in hospital. It is horrible to hear.

‘I just knew them as an inviting and lovely couple. I always used to wave at them as I walked by.’

A neighbour said: ‘Ken and Freda were devoted to each other. This has shocked everyone who knew them.’

Another resident said: ‘We are totally shocked. We didn’t hear a thing – nothing.

‘We didn’t know them, we’ve only just moved to the area ourselves. We didn’t even know their names.

‘It is a really quiet area – odd bit of trouble, especially with living on the main road. But nothing like this. Really sad.’

A neighbour, two doors down from the couple, said: ‘I knew of their names because this a close-knit area – everybody knows everybody.

‘It is shocking and upsetting. I have lived on this street for 53 years. It has been a lovely area to live. It is really sad.

‘You would see Kenneth and Freda now and again but that was it. This is just shocking.’

A resident who lived on the neighbouring estate of Primrose Way, said: ‘The police came to visit me this morning, as they have done with all the neighbours in the estate, just to see if I had heard anything.

‘I’ve heard it was a some sort of break-in or burglary there, I didn’t know them – never seen them.

‘I heard this morning that it was an elderly couple and the lady had died. The gentleman is in intensive care.

‘The police are not revealing much information to use either. We’re looking for updates.

‘It is just shocking – you don’t expect to hear something like this happen in a quiet residential estate.”

Police have cordoned off the couple’s home which backs onto several allotments. An alleyway by the side of the house has also been sealed off.

Pictures from the scene show a number of police vehicles, and forensics officers in attendance.

The area is popular with young families due to being close to Brookfield Primary School and Langwith Bassett Junior Academy. 

Homes in the immediate area range from £150,000 to £275,000.