File photo: Marlon George Grech

The 72-year-old Danish woman found dead in Marsalforn Valley last month was strangled, the police said today.

The woman had been found completely naked and face down in a pool of water by a man walking his dog.

The police said pathologists today confirmed that Vera Bodil Engelbrecht Holm had died from asphyxia by way of strangulation.

An autopsy had established she had suffered a blow to her head, bruises to her chest and a broken rib. Her mobile phone and purse were nowhere to be found when her body was first discovered and police carried out forensic tests to verify she was the same woman who had been reported missing three days earlier.

She was here on holiday with her son-in-law, his brother and two grandchildren.

The police said investigations into this case are in progress.

They again appealed for information. One can contact the police on tel. 119 or 2122 4001.