Detectives have said murdered West Molesey antiques dealer Robyn Mercer was bludgeoned to death by an axe or machete as they pleaded for the public’s help in a Crimewatch appeal.

Ms Mercer’s murder was featured on last night’s episode, nearly six months after the 50-year-old’s death on March 13.

The mother of two, who lived in Abbey Walk in Walton Road, was discovered by a neighbour the next morning.

Detective chief inspector Paul Rymarz told Crimewatch viewers: “At about 9pm on Sunday March 13, we believe Robyn had gone outside to put something in the bins outside the front of her house, having had a family meal.

“Her body was discovered the following morning at about 8am at the end of the driveway by the back gate, and the post mortem revealed she’d been hit once on the front of the head and then struck several times while on floor.

“We believe the weapon was some sort of axe or machete and we’re appealing for any information from anybody that knows anything about that weapon to contact us tonight.”

Presenter Jeremy Vine called the murder a “horrific attack on a totally defenceless woman”.

Ms Mercer had worked for silver specialists J.H. Bourdon-Smith for the last 25 years, and was close friends with its owner, Edward Bourdon-Smith.

He said: “She’s got two lovely children who have lost a mother, lots of lovely friends who have lost her. She was very important to all of us and we’ve all been very upset.

“It will be a very good thing if whoever is responsible is caught for the closure of the family and for ourselves actually.”

The appeal also highlighted grainy CCTV footage showing two figures walking across Walton Road towards Ms Mercer’s house at about 9.35pm on the night she was murdered.

DCI Rymarz said the footage was “vital” to the investigation.

He added in a video on Crimewatch’s Twitter account that detectives believe they have a name for a potential witness – a dog walker spotted on CCTV at a nearby shop – after the images were aired during the programme.

Crimestoppers are offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Ms Mercer’s murder.

Five people are currently on bail in relation to the murder: 

  • A 52-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on the day Ms Mercer was found.
  • Two 26-year-old men arrested on suspicion of murder and suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
  • A 44-year-old woman and a 20-year woman, both from Oxshott, who were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting Operation Zebu, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.