Oct 19 2005
By Gareth Llewellyn
A pensioner has died after being stabbed while out shopping today.
The 75-year-old woman was in the Poundstretcher store in Cardiff city centre when she was attacked by another customer at around 12.20pm today.
She was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff but was pronounced dead on arrival.
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A 44-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with the incident and is being questioned at Cardiff Central Police station.
Detectives sealed off Church Street where the shop is situated and scenes of crime officers have been deployed.
Detective Superintendent Paul Kemp, leading the investigation, said: “We are treating this as murder, and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact our incident room which has been set up at Fairwater Police Station, on 02920 571 530.
“In particular, we would like to speak with anyone who was in, or in the vicinity of, the Poundstretcher store between midday and 12.30pm.”
A mobile police unit has been set up outside St Johns Church, close to the scene, to give witnesses the opportunity to speak to officers.
A spokesman for South Wales Police said they were trying to trace the next of kin and a Home Office post mortem examination is due to be carried out tonight.
Staff at the store who witnessed the attack have been offered counselling.
A spokesman for Instore, which owns the Poundstretcher chain, said: “The premises have now been closed as it is a scene of crime and we are very much guided by police in terms of when the store can reopen.
“In terms of staff, we are offering them counselling services because obviously they are traumatised by the events.”
He also confirmed no staff were involved in the incident.
Maria Davies was one of the first people at the scene and comforted the fatally injured woman.
She told the BBC website: “I was passing the side entrance of the market and I heard a lot of raised voices in Poundstretcher.
“I went into the shop. I saw these two old ladies coming towards me.
“One said, ’Can you help me, someone has just been stabbed in the back’.
“I looked at the other lady and I saw the knife in her back.”
Ms Davies added: “I sat her down on a chair and she was gripping me tightly. I told her the ambulance was on its way.
“I tried to calm her down. She was crying and shaking.
“She was still fully conscious because she was talking to me.”
Ms Davies said she stayed with the woman until the emergency services arrived and she was taken away by paramedics.
This is how bad it is here, What could an old lady of 75 do against a knife. 