Man questioned over pensioner's murder in Hornchurch
A man who was found in a house in east London where the body of a 77-year-old woman was found is being questioned by police over the death.
The body of Rosemary Shearman was found by neighbours in Platford Green, Hornchurch, on Tuesday, after a taxi driver raised the alarm.
Police arrested a 50-year-old man, who had barricaded himself in a room, on suspicion of murder.
He was taken to hospital after having suffered self-inflicted injuries.
The pensioner had booked a cab, police said, but when the taxi driver arrived and got no reply he alerted the neighbours who entered her home and found the body.
Det Ch Insp Noel McHugh, who is leading the investigation from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "This is a complicated investigation and we are piecing together the evidence.
"A man has been arrested in connection with Rosemary's murder and is in our custody, and only now can we begin to interview him.
"At this time I won't speculate on what the motive behind Rosemary's murder may be."
Police also want to hear from anybody who saw a man - described as white, 6ft 2in tall, of heavy build and wearing a dark pinstripe suit, go into the woman's home on Tuesday or seen in the vicinity.
He was carrying a white plastic bag.