TWO PEOPLE have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a church leader found dead at her south London home.

Church leader Nelly Akomah, 76, was found fatally injured at the bottom of the stairs in her home on Ladbrook Road, in Croydon. Her CCTV had been cut before the attack, according to reports.

A man aged 28 and woman, 31, were arrested at Stansted Airport yesterday (Friday), detectives said.

Det Ch Insp Kate Blackburn said: “I don’t underestimate the level of concern in the local community following this shocking incident and there are various suggestions circulating about what may have happened.

“At this stage, we are investigating the possibility that there was a burglary at Nelly’s address.

“I must stress that our investigation is in its very early stages and we are working to establish what exactly happened.”

The family are awaiting the results of a post-mortem and being comforted by friends and relatives.

A 62-year-old neighbour said: “We are heartbroken she was our neighbour for 20 years. A lovely churchgoing woman. She was always very well dressed. She was not doddery, she was very strong and always out doing her own shopping, she certainly wouldn’t have just fallen down the stairs. Just a smart, smiley, lady.”

Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 10.40am on Wednesday, 21 June, to reports of a woman, aged in her mid-70s, found dead at a house in Croydon. 

Detectives would like to speak with anyone who saw anything suspicious in the vicinity of Ladbrook Road.

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 2540/21Jun.