Arson death police chase new leads after TV appeal

The 81-year-old died after white spirit was poured through the letterbox of her home at Sandal Grange Farm, Sandal, causing the blaze at her property in the early hours of Monday, November 10, 2008.

Speaking yesterday, Det Supt Dave Pervin urged a woman who called the incident room at around 11.05pm on Wednesday, after the TV appeal, to ring again. She called saying she had information about the fire but would only speak to the senior investigating officer and then hung up.

Det Supt Pervin appealed for her to contact him as soon as possible.

Mrs Brooke's body was found in the burned-out remains of her detached bungalow. She died from smoke inhalation and was found in her nightclothes in a bathroom, her body partly covered by fallen debris caused by a fierce blaze which took firefighters more than two hours to bring under control.

Despite appeals on TV, radio and local newspapers and a substantial 10,000 cash reward for information from the Crimestoppers Trust, police are still trying to establish a clear motive for the incident.

Last year, an inquest into her death, coroner David Hinchliff recorded a verdict that Mrs Brooke was unlawfully killed.

Mr Hinchliff said he could not believe that a "highly respected lady" such as Mrs Brooke could be the intended victim, and added: "It seems to me inconceivable that anyone could wish her to be harmed."

Det Supt Pervin added: "Someone must know who did this – it will have been very hard for the perpetrator to keep this to themselves. I would urge anyone who has information about the person responsible or may harbour suspicions to come forward and let us have that information."

Contact the incident room at West Yorkshire Police via 0845 6060606, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or text to 07786 200 805 followed by "Sandal Fire" and your message.