A top US pathologist yesterday examined the house where an elderly widow was battered so badly she died of her injuries six days after the attack.

And Farouk Presswalla last night carried out an autopsy on the body of Beatrice Simons, 69, who died on Sunday.

Earlier, with detectives trailing Mrs. Simons' killer and Government Analyst Kevin Leask, Dr. Presswalla spent 45 minutes examining the crime scene.

He was then taken to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to carry out the autopsy.

Dr. Presswalla, of the New Jersey State Medical Department, was drafted in to Bermuda as a replacement for Valerie Rao, who has carried out similar work in Bermuda in the past.

Dr. Rao, of Miami's Dade County Coroner's Office, was not available to travel to Bermuda for the job.

A Police spokesman last night said: "There have been no arrests so far but inquiries are continuing.'' And he urged anyone who could help the massive murder probe who has not been interviewed to contact the Major Incident Room at the force's Prospect HQ.

Mrs. Simons suffered severe head injuries around midnight last Monday in a frenzied attack by what is believed to have been a robber.

Neighbours heard screams and called Police who found Mrs. Simons with blood pouring from head and arm wounds. Mrs. Simons was rushed to hospital, but it is understood her condition deteriorated until she ended up on a life support machine.

But Police on Monday confirmed detectives had been able to interview her before she lost consciousness and died.

The man leading the hunt, Det. Ch. Insp. Carlton Adams, added that the 20-strong task force assembled to probe the case had interviewed several people in connection with the slaying and were "following a number of lines of inquiry.'' The news came as workers at the Belmont Hotel -- where Mrs. Simons, of Cochrane Road, Sandys, worked as a seamstress for nearly a quarter of a century -- expressed their shock at the brutal killing.

A hotel spokeswoman said: "We were all totally devastated by it all. She was one of those wonderful elderly people who was so sweet and kind.

"It's such a shock for us all -- you can't believe this could happen in Bermuda.

"All of the staff had nothing but kind words to say about her. She was a seamstress and she was always ready to do staff a favour and she'd never accept any payment for it.'' Anyone with information on the killing should contact the Major Incident Room on 299-4315 or call the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.

Rewards for leads may be available under the Crimestoppers scheme.