Police have released a picture of Julia James in the clothes she was wearing when she was last seen, in the hope that it will jog the memories of potential witnesses who can shed light on her last movements.
The picture shows James, with her dog, in a light blue waterproof coat, blue jeans and dark brown wellington-style boots – the same clothing, according to police, that she wore on Tuesday 27 April.
James, 53, who was a police community support officer, was found dead later that day in Akholt Wood, close to her family home in the village of Snowdown, Kent, after going out to walk her dog, Toby. A postmortem found she had suffered serious head injuries and had died as a result of blunt force trauma.
“We’re hoping that this image of Julia wearing what she wore before her death will help jog people’s memory,” said Tom Richards, an assistant chief constable of Kent police.
“We want to hear from people who think they saw her walking Toby on that day and we also want to speak to people who were in the area that afternoon. Perhaps you were going for a run, walking your own dog, driving through or farming your land.
“We want to hear from anyone who was in the area or who saw Julia. Any and all information is welcomed and our detectives will decide what is relevant to their investigation.”
Detectives from the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate also issued a map of the area where James was found dead, and asked anyone who was in the area between 1pm and 4.30pm on the day of her death to come forward. The area is contained by boundaries of the pathways of Spinney Lane to the north, Aylesham Road to the east, Holt Street to the south and Pond Lane to the west.
The latest appeals came as officers continued to carry out inquiries in the area. On Tuesday, seven days after James’s killing, officers stopped 449 vehicles passing through the area to speak to motorists.
Police were also continuing to conduct house-to-house inquiries. “Many local residents in the Aylesham and Snowdown area can expect a visit from officers to allow them to discuss any concerns they may have as well as provide any information which could assist the investigation,” police said.
Richards added: “Inquiries continue at pace, as does our very visible presence in the Aylesham and Snowdown areas.
“While we will not be telling people what they can and can’t do, we are urging people to be vigilant and to be aware of their surroundings. Work is still under way to establish the motive for Julia’s killing and we’re keen people stay and feel safe.”
