after a brutal beating in her own home.

Now a full-scale murder hunt has been launched and Police pledged a massive effort to track down the killer.

Beatrice Simons, 69, was horrifically beaten in a late night attack at her Sandys home on Tuesday. She died last night around 9 p.m. in the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's intensive care unit.

Mrs. Simons, a widow, suffered severe head and arm injuries during the attack.

Next-door-neighbour Christine Francisco, 24, said she had known Mrs. Simons, of Cochrane Road, near Dockyard, all her life. She added: "This is not something which happened in our neighbourhood -- everybody knew everyone else -- it's really scary.

"It scares all of us on this block -- I hope whoever did this is caught as soon as possible.'' Ms Francisco added that Mrs. Simons was a well-known and popular figure in the area.

She said: "She was the sweetest woman ever -- she always lent you something if you needed it.

"If we were ever locked out when we were young, she'd take us in. She was a lovely woman.'' Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "You could walk round here and feel comfortable -- now you're afraid. Something like this has never happened here and I've lived here all my life.'' She added: "We are all hoping they will hurry up and catch the person who did this because everybody around here is very timid at the moment. People used to sleep at nights with their front doors open -- not any more.'' The news came as Police appealed for any witnesses who may have seen something suspicious on the night of the attack to come forward.

The Police spokeswoman said CID officers wanted to speak to anyone who was in the Cochrane Road area between 10.30 p.m. on Monday and 12.30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

It is understood that the raider's motive may have been a robbery which went wrong after he was disturbed.

Last night Public Safety Minister and local MP Eugene Cox both called for the public to help Police snare the culprit -- or culprits.

Mr. Edness said: "I can't imagine the kind of person who would do this to an elderly woman who was not in a position to be able to defend herself in any way. It will not go unnoticed or unpunished.'' Sandys North MP Eugene Cox said the area traditionally had a "a quiet village type of atmosphere. It's tragic such a thing could have happened, especially in her own home. Criminal activity such as this we don't want to see here. I hope we can find the culprits and do justice as soon as possible.'' CRIME CRM