A POLICE investigation into a brutal attack last week on a young
mother became a murder inquiry yesterday when she died of her injuries
at the Southern General hospital in Glasgow.
Ms Shona Stevens, 31, of Alder Green, Irvine, in Ayrshire, had been
critically ill after suffering serious injuries to her head and body
when she was attacked on a footpath near her home on Thursday.
Detectives, who described the attack as ''savage'', said they had had
a good response from the public but today will renew their appeal for
information at a news conference in Kilmarnock.
Ms Stevens, who is believed to have been separated or divorced and had
a seven-year-old daughter, was found by a passer-by lying in a field
near the pathway at Ochil Court in Irvine at about 1.30pm.
She had been walking home after visiting local shops, including a
grocer's store in Bourtreehill, where she made a purchase at about
1.05pm.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Lauder, the officer leading the
inquiries, said yesterday: ''We have had a good response from the public
so far and are hoping that this will continue and develop.
''We want to contact anyone who was in the area of the footpath on
Thursday, such as people walking their dogs.''
An incident caravan at the scene can be contacted on 0294 222987 and a
murder incident room has been set up at Kilmarnock police station,
telephone 0563 21188.
A post-mortem examination is to be carried out today.
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