Rosina Waller

Rosina Waller was an 88-year-old beloved mother of two and grandmother of five from Thorpe Bay whose life was tragically taken on New Year’s Day 2010 in her own home. She had just celebrated her 88th birthday and is remembered by her family as a gentle, warm woman who deserved to spend her final years in safety and peace.

Her death caused profound grief to those who loved her and left a “devastating gap” in the lives of all her family, shocking the local community in Southend.

She was returning home from a family party with her son-in-law Terry when she was attacked on her front doorstep at around 6:45pm. A stranger pounced as they got out of the car, threw plant pots at the door and inflicted severe head injuries. Emergency services attended but Rosina died from her injuries; her son-in-law was also badly hurt in the assault.

The attacker was later identified as Hassan Salahi. He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act at Chelmsford Crown Court in December 2010.

Rest in peace Rosina. You will not be forgotten.