FLOWERS have been left outside of the house where Worcester pensioner Janet Mason died earlier this week.

A woman appeared in court on Thursday, March 11, charged with the killing of Ms Mason.

Jessica Crane, of Hillside Close, Worcester, appeared before a deputy district judge in Kidderminster for a preliminary hearing.

She is charged with murdering 69-year-old Ms Mason, at an address in Green Lane, off Rainbow Hill on Tuesday.

Flowers were laid outside of the property on Thursday.

There had been a police presence outside the house in Green Lane since the incident on Tuesday, but officers had left the scene on Thursday and the police cordon outside had also been removed.

David, a neighbour who lives in Green Lane, said: “It is quite shocking. I didn’t know the woman who died, I’ve only been here a year or so and we didn’t notice anything going on until we opened the blinds and saw police and vans in the road.

“There’s been a police car outside the house most days since it happened, and police have been knocking on doors everyday just to take statements from people.”

Another resident who lives in the road said:”I didn’t know the woman, but it was quite shocking, not a very nice thing to happen in your street - to come home and see the scene, you don’t expect it at all.

“Police had been parked there for a while but I went out this morning and they had gone when I got back.”

Jessica Crane appeared before Kidderminster Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.

She was softly spoken when she confirmed her name and address.

The 49-year-old defendant remains in custody and is now due to appear at a hearing at Worcester Crown Court.

West Mercia Police were called to the address on Green Lane just after 10.40am on Tuesday - where Janet Mason was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police shut off Green Lane following the incident . Police, forensic officers and two ambulances were on the scene. Neighbours had said that “screams and shouts” were heard from the property prior to the police arriving. Neighbours also reported that a young woman was led away by police.

Relatives of Ms Mason are being supported by specialist police officers.

See worcesternews.co.uk for updates.