Neighbour charged with the murder of war veteran Bill Davis

A neighbour of tragic Willenhall pensioner Bill Davis has been charged with his murder - as his devastated family spoke about their pain of losing him for the first time.

Married mother-of-two Charlotte Frazier-Doody will appear in court tomorrow accused of murdering the 92-year-old great-grandfather.

He died in his home after suffering severe head injuries.

After charging the 35-year-old with the killing, detectives today made a fresh appeal for the public's help with the investigation and said that officers were searching for clothing which may be blood-stained.

Officers, who are trying to trace a blue Puffa-style jacket and other items, urged people in Willenhall and Wednesfield to look out for discarded material.

Det Insp Gary Plant said: "We have already recovered a significant amount of evidence.

"We are still appealing for anyone who may have come across items of clothing, possibly blood-stained, to speak to police. We would ask them to have a look in their gardens and bins."

The murder investigation was launched after Mr Davis was found collapsed at his home in Hobley Street on Sunday.

The former worker of Willenhall firms Josiah Parkes and Charles Perks, was last seen at 9am on Sunday in his front garden.

A neighbour took some lunch round to his house at around 3.15pm. Neighbours became concerned that they could not rouse him at 6pm and found him collapsed.

A post mortem found that Mr Davis, who served in the Royal Navy, died as a result of severe head injuries.

Frazier-Doody, who lived opposite Mr Davis, was arrested on Tuesday. She has been kept in police custody and will appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Mr Davis' relatives today paid tribute to the decorated war veteran.

Son Tom, aged 55, said: "My father was a well-respected, likeable man who never did anyone any harm.

"He loved his family and when my mum died in 2006 he was devastated after 63 years of marriage. He also lost my sister in 2008, which broke his heart.

"His war record began in the Royal Navy at the very start of 1939 and he was involved in many campaigns such as the Russian convoys, the relief of Malta and the war in the Pacific, fighting the Japanese, of which he was decorated for.

"He was a very proud and independent man. I hope he's reunited with my mum and sister, but the pain of losing him in such a tragic way will take us a lifetime to come to terms with."