THE granddaughter of a pensioner who was murdered in her own home in Thamesmead during a burglary 10 years ago has spoken out.  

Pamela Wheeler died from a head injury and suffocation at her home in Newacres Road on July 20, 2012.  

The 76-year-old was found dead two days later by a neighbour who was concerned that she had not seen Mrs Wheeler. 

In 2016, an inquest into her death at Southwark Coroners' Court found that Mrs Wheeler suffered injuries to her arms, indicating that she had been trying to defend herself before being killed.  

In a statement, Amy Hudson, who was Mrs Wheeler's granddaughter, said that the terror and pain that happened to her nan 10 years ago is something that no one should experience in their last hours alive.

Amy said: “After a hard, sad life of frequent severe mental illness, to lose her life to the level of extreme violence that she did, is something we as a family have never been able to come to terms with.  

“No one should experience that level of terror and pain in their last hours alive.  

"We have had ten years without her that we should have had.” 

In a statement made by Detective Inspector Donna Convery, which was read to the court in 2016, she said it was noticed that Mrs Wheeler’s rear door was slightly ajar.  

The neighbour knocked on her front door at 10.30am on July 22 but got no answer. 

She knocked again at 6pm the same day, before going round to the back door where she went into the house to find Mrs Wheeler dead. 

The neighbour called the emergency services and covered Mrs Wheeler’s body with a duvet, the inquest heard. 

Amy says that there’s nothing to change what happened, but the family are looking for justice.  

She explained: “Ten years of missed opportunity for closeness, witnessing my successes and being there for my failures, the opportunity to live out her days with people who would have loved her.   

"There isn’t anything that can change what has happened and fix the cracks it has left in my Mum’s heart and mind, but we do need justice.  

“We really need this. If anyone has any information that could help, please come forward." 

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said that the force remains committed to bringing the person responsible for the death of Mrs Wheeler.  

The spokesperson added: "The investigation into the murder of Pamela Wheeler is ongoing and the Met remains committed to bringing the person responsible for her death to justice.  

"Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command continue to review the evidence in the case and remain in contact with Pamela's family."

Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call 020 8721 4622.

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