London Hornchurch

A man was charged last night with the murder of 77 year old Rosemary Shearman.

50 year old Thomas Blazquez, from Redbridge was charged with killing the grandmother in her own home in Hornchurch last Tuesday 3rd September.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow.

The son of pensioner, Rosemary Shearman, who was killed at her home in Hornchurch spoke today of how he was struggling to come to terms with what happened.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Gregory Shearman said: "I'm just totally shocked. I don't know what to say."

It's emerged the 72-year-old pensioner was bound, gagged and stabbed in the random attack.

Police have appealed for witnesses after an elderly woman was murdered in her own home. Neighbours discovered the body of the victim after a taxi driver failed to get an answer when knocking on the front door.

A 50-year-old man has been arrested and is being treated in hospital with self inflicted injuries. Our Senior Correspondent Ronke Philips reports.

Police guard the house of 72-year-old Rosemary Shearman, who was killed in a random attack by a stranger.

Neighbours report that the attacker was seen on CCTV camera walking casually into the pensioner's home. The body was found by a concerned friend.

A pensioner killed by a stranger at her home in Hornchurch has been named locally as Rosemary Shearman. She was aged 72. Mrs Sherman's son, Greg, is believed to on his way to scene from his home in Wales. Her daughter lives in Hong Kong.

• A man, aged 50, was arrested at the address in Hornchurch on suspicion of murder
• He was taken to hospital suffering from injuries, which at this early stage appear to be self-inflicted
• Police believe they know the identity of the woman but are waiting for formal identification

A pensioner has been killed in what appears to be a random attack at her home in Hornchurch. Police say the woman who lived in Platford Green, is believed to be in her 70s.