A murder mystery that has baffled detectives for nearly 70 years may be a step closer to being solved after new evidence emerged.
A woman has given police new information about the brutal killing of pub landlord Amy Davis who was beaten to death in October 1945.
The 68-year-old’s body was found by a cleaner in the Ring of Bells in Yardley Street, Hillfields.
Officers from New Scotland Yard were brought in to investigate the case and hundreds of people were interviewed but the killer has never been found.
A few months ago woman walked into Willenhall Police Station in Chace Avenue and said she had information about the case.
As a result Inspector Simon Astle, from West Midlands Police’s cold case team, is now reviewing the murder.
The case files have been obtained from the Metropolitan Police while a display on the murder at Coventry Police Museum has been boxed up and sent to officers.
On the day her body was discovered the Telegraph reported that Mrs Davis, a widow, was well liked in the “poor quarter” of Hillfields where she had traded for many years.
The article said: “Mrs Davis lived alone and last night she was in good health and chatting with her customers.
“The doors closed shortly after ten and a neighbour told an Evening Telegraph reporter that when she looked out before going to bed all was quiet at the Ring Of Bells and no lights were showing.
“Early this morning the woman who helps Mrs Davis entered the premises but got no reply to her call.
“In the bathroom she made the tragic discovery. Mrs Davis was lying in the bath with her head covered in blood.”
Detectives initially speculated that robbery was the most likely motive for the murder because cash and jewellery had gone missing.
They interviewed 1,500 people during the investigation but failed to find the killer.
The pub re-opened weeks after the killing but was eventually demolished in 1970.
At the time of the murder the pub was surrounded by waste ground because so many nearby homes had been destroyed by the Blitz.
The war had ended just 53 days before Mrs Davis was murdered.
This isn’t the first time people claiming to have information about the murder have come forwards.
In 1988 the Telegraph received two letters from people who said they knew who killed Mrs Davis - but neither identified the murderer.
The first claimed the killer was called Charlie and had bludgeoned her to death before strangling her.
The second letter writer said the murderer’s name began with F and he died in 1973.
The writer went on to say that they would not reveal the killer’s identity until his son - who would now be in his 90s - has died.
Please note that the block of flats seen behind the pub in the photograph had not yet been built at the time of the murder.
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