Killer of South Yorkshire grandmother beaten to death at home as chip supper lay untouched remains at large
One lead has linked the killing with a man known locally as a 'knock off lad' seen selling door-to-door near Nora’s home at the time of her brutal slaying
The killer of a South Yorkshire grandmother - beaten to death in her home as her untouched fish and chips lay cooling on a nearby table - remains at large nearly 21 years on.
Whoever ended the life of Nora Tait, 69, on October 13, 2005 did it with such ferocity that she had severe fractures to her skull - caused by a number of blows to the back of her head.
The weapon used to attack Nora in her Stone Close Avenue home, in Hexthorpe, Doncaster, has never been found.
The only item taken from her home was a black leather purse containing a small amount of money which has also never been recovered.
During a February 2013 inquest a coroner was told Nora was believed to have put up a fight but her efforts to defend herself sadly did not save her and she died from the head injuries she sustained.
Among various leads police have followed up over the years is one linking the killing with a man known locally as a 'knock off lad' seen selling door-to-door near Nora’s home at the time of her brutal slaying.
On the 20th anniversary of her death last year Nora’s daughter Jayne Watson returned to Stone Close Avenue to appeal for answers and justice.
She said: "My mum wasn't in a place she shouldn't have been. She was in her own home and somewhere she should have been safe.
“You don't expect your parent to be taken in such a horrific way. It was so undeserved and brutal. We are yet to put a gravestone on my mum's grave because we are waiting for this final closure.
“To have those answers really would mean the absolutely world to me and my family, and it would mean we could finally lay our mum to rest."
Underlining the belief that the secret to finding Nora’s killer lies within the Hexthorpe community, Detective Chief Inspector Ben Wood made a fresh appeal for information the same year.
He said: "We remain very much committed to finding the person who ended Nora's life and we still believe that those all-important answers lie within the local community.
"We have already pursued 3,000 lines of enquiry and taken 600 witness statements but we are hopeful that there is fresh information out there which could prove to be the missing piece in this 20 year jigsaw.
"Nora's family, friends and loved ones deserve to know what happened to her and for justice to be served. If you have any information which you haven't previously shared then please share it with us.
"Somebody knows what happened to her, and if you do know something and are continuing to carry it with you then please tell the police.
"It doesn't matter how insignificant it may seem as even the smallest piece of information could prove to be really insightful to our overall investigation.
"Do it for Nora, and do it for her family to get them the closure they so desperately need.”
Nora is believed to have been killed the day before she was found by a close friend in the dining room of her home in October 2005.
Fish and chips she had bought from Lucky Mei takeaway near her home were found untouched on the table in the same room.
In the hours before she died Nora had attended Doncaster Royal Infirmary and gone shopping in Doncaster town centre before catching a bus back to Hexthorpe, arriving there at around 1pm and then buying the meal.
During Nora’s 2013 inquest senior coroner Nicola Mundy said she thought Mrs Tait “wasn't entirely meticulous as to the locking of doors”.
She added: "I am satisfied there had been times when the door would be unlocked." She added: "I hope this inquest might prompt someone to come to the police, so the person responsible can be brought to justice."
However, Ms Mundy's hope that news of Nora's death would encourage witnesses to come forward, did not result in anyone being charged with her murder.
During 2015 reports concerning 'knock off lad' he was was described as “white, 5ft 5in to 5ft 8in, medium build” and estimated to be aged between 20 and 30 at the time of Nora's death.
Said to have been to be selling items including cheese, tea and coffee, he was said to have short brown hair, be clean shaven with a clear complexion and to have spoken with a Yorkshire accent.
He may have been wearing a long khaki coloured Parker-style coat and was known to smoke roll-up cigarettes.
In October 2015, detectives working on the case said they were keen to speak to a man who had phoned police in March of that year claiming to have information which could help them solve the case.
The caller refused to give his name or leave any contact information and said he would call back, but he never did.
South Yorkshire Police also received a Christmas card in 2009 which read: "To the Nora Tait murder inquiry team, keep up the good work. I might know a little something or nothing, I will be back in touch after Christmas".
However the potential lead went cold when the writer never made further contact.