Ten years after her murder, a fresh appeal to find Doncaster grandma’s killer

Grandmother Nora Tait was 69 when she was attacked and killed in her Hexthorpe home. Despite extensive enquiries, a Crimewatch appeal and an offer of a £20,000 reward for information, her killer has never been found.

A man detectives believe could hold the key to solving the murder called police asking to speak to the senior investigating officer in the case in March. He did not leave a name or telephone number and detectives are urging him to come forward once again.

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Robinson, who is leading the inquiry, said: “Ten years down the line, someone knows who has done this, and we need that person to come forward.

“We are as determined as ever to bring the person responsible to justice.”

Mrs Tait had returned home to Stone Close Avenue with fish and chips at around 1pm on October 12.

The former seamstress was assaulted with such ferocity that she had severe fractures to her skull, caused by a number of blows to the back of her head.

Her body was found by a friend the next day, her meal untouched on the dining room table.

The anonymous call is not the first time detectives have been contacted by the public with information on the case.

In 2009, the murder inquiry team received a Christmas card with the message: “To the Nora Tait murder inquiry team keep up the good work x. I might know a little something or nothing – I will be back in touch after Christmas.”

The writer never got back in touch and police are once again urging them to come forward.

Over the last decade, the investigation has generated more than 3,000 lines of enquiry, and officers have taken more than 600 statements and made nine arrests.

They are now hoping advances in DNA technology could help find Mrs Tait’s killer.

While the weapon used in the attack has never been found, police are reviewing all forensic evidence taken from the house at the time of the attack.

Police are also keen to trace a man known locally as ‘knock-off lad’ who was selling food door to door in the area near Mrs Tait’s home to get in touch. They have released an e-fit of the man, who was white, aged between 20 and 30 years old, and around 5 foot 5 to 5 foot 8.

Ten years, on Mrs Tait’s family is still enduring the heartache of knowing their mother’s killer has not yet been found.

Her daughter Jayne Watson said: “To us it feels like we received the news yesterday.

“Ten years is a long time to live with the knowledge that the evil, cowardly person who did this to a defenceless pensioner is walking about and living a normal life.

“Every anniversary we pray that this year we’ll hear the news that someone has come forward with a vital piece of information, that someone will be brought to justice and we can have some closure. Our mum enjoyed life, her grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends and should have been enjoying them still.

“Someone holds that piece of information and we hope that they will have the courage to pick up the phone and make that call. Hopefully this is the year where we can say ‘bye mum’ properly.”

Mrs Tait’s son Alan Watson said: “We’re hoping this year something concrete will come, we’ll get justice and someone will go to prison for what they have done.

“Emotionally, it’s been bad. Every day it’s in the back of your mind.

“We’ll never forget it. We’ve been deprived of our mum.”

Mr Watson said his mother was a happy woman, and appealed for anyone with information to pass it on to police.

He said: “She’d help anybody. Nothing was too much trouble. She was just a brilliant mum.

“People might have a small bit of information, something they think is trivial. But everything will help.

“You don’t expect you mum to be murdered, in her house, in broad daylight. For this to happen to a defenceless pensioner is disgusting.

“It’s been ten years of agony for our family, and we don’t want another ten years, we want this sorting once and for all.”

Appealing directly to the killer, DCI Robinson said: “You must wake up every day, expecting a knock on your door. Have the guts to come forward, and lets get this put to bed once and for all.”

Anyone with information should contact South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on call 0800 555 111.