Qld: Police appeal to murderers of 83-year-old Brisbane woman

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2004
Qld: Police appeal to murderers of 83-year-old Brisbane woman

BRISBANE, Feb 17 AAP - A police appeal to the murderers of 83-year-old Brisbane woman
Joan Pitt to give themselves up did not mean the investigation had stalled, Queensland
police said today.

Mrs Pitt was found dead in her St Lucia unit in Brisbane's inner-west on New Year's
Day with more than $500,000 worth of jewellery stolen from the 11th storey apartment.

Detective Senior Sergeant Geoff Acreman said the exhaustive investigation had not reached
a stalemate.

"Oh, in no way has it reached that," Sen Sgt Acreman said.

"We still have numerous inquiries that are being conducted. This is going to be a long
investigation because of the thoroughness that is being applied to it.

"It's going to take a lot of work to solve this one. We are getting closer with every
day that goes past."

Sen Sgt Acreman said the incident was a break and enter gone horribly wrong and appealed
to the people involved to "re-evaluate their conscience" and come forward to police.

"There's jewellery out there that is extremely expensive jewellery that's been stolen
and what really makes this rather sickening is that's what this is all about," he said.

"This 83-year-old woman has died because somebody wanted her jewellery and as pathetic
as that is that's exactly what this is, it's a break and enter."

He said there was also the possibility that Mrs Pitt was still alive when the offenders
left the unit but she was left in such a way she could not seek assistance.

AAP ggd/sc/sco/jlw

KEYWORD: PITT

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