The final hours of a grandmother who was found dead at home with a fatal head injury have been revealed.
Rose Johnston, 68, was discovered at a property on Ancroft Road in Dovecot, Liverpool, at 12.35pm on October 4 last year.
Police have released CCTV showing Ms Johnston enjoying time with friends at The Watch Maker pub in Prescot just two days before she was murdered.
In the footage, Ms Johnston enters the pub and helps herself to a coffee before walking between the tables to find a seat.
She left at around 12.40am on October 3 and travelled by taxi to her home, where she was found dead the next day.
Ms Johnston was discovered wearing the same all-white outfit seen in the CCTV footage.
She appeared to be her usual self, reportedly ‘having a good time socialising with friends in the pub that afternoon and evening’.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder and remain on conditional police bail.
Friends and family paid tribute to Rose Johnston (pictured) after her death in Dovecot was confirmed on Saturday, October 4
Police have released CCTV of Rose Johnston socialising with friends at The Watch Maker pub in Prescot just two days before her murder
Ms Johnston is seen helping herself to a coffee after entering the pub
Her family said: ‘As the first anniversary of mum’s death approaches, the pain we feel as a family is unbearable.
‘Not a day goes by when we are not desperate to find out what happened to her.
‘The way she died was senseless and devastating, and as a family we struggle to understand why anyone would want to hurt her.’
They added: ‘She was an honest, hardworking woman whose caring nature touched every person she met.
‘Mum should have been looking forward to many more years with her family and watching her grandchildren grow up.’
On what would have been Ms Johnston’s 69th birthday in August, her family remembered her as a ‘kind, caring and compassionate’ mum and nan.
In a statement issued through police, they said being without her on her birthday was ‘one of many firsts’.
The statement said: ‘The impact of losing my mum is a constant source of pain for our whole family. We know she would likely have been arranging a caravan break to celebrate her birthday with her beloved sister, or perhaps planning a couple of nights in a hotel in Southport.
The pensioner is then seen walking between the tables to find a seat
‘Mum loved nothing more than the chance to take a walk along the beach or prom, go to the market or maybe go to one of her favourite chippies in Rhos-on-Sea. Mum would have had my cousins helping to plan and arrange a lovely day for us all, but now I won’t get the opportunity to take my mum out for tea and spoil her.
‘Those little things that we enjoyed as a family have been brutally snatched away from her and us. As a family we are still in a state of shock and disbelief as to why this has happened to my beautiful mum.’
Detective Chief Inspector Catherine Walsh said the family are ‘absolutely devastated by the loss and deserve to get answers’.
She added: ‘We’ve carried out extensive enquiries over the past 12 months, including house-to-house, CCTV, forensics and witnesses.
‘We have arrested two males who are currently on conditional bail, and we are continuing to pursue any line of enquiry to find the persons responsible and bring them to justice…I remain absolutely committed to that.’
Investigators are encouraging witnesses to come forward with any information that may help.
Independent charity Crimestoppers also offered a reward up to £20,000 for information it exclusively received that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the murder.
