Is Mary, aged 96, Britain's oldest murder victim?

The widowed great-grandmother lived alone and went out in all weathers to do her shopping.

On the morning of her 96th birthday, she walked the half mile to her daughter's house to receive her cards and gifts from the family.

And on the way home, she was knocked to the ground as a mugger took her handbag.

Sickeningly, he rifled through her birthday cards, shaking out the birthday money they contained.

Mrs Sear, from Harrow, North-West London, died of a heart attack six days later in hospital, where she was being treated for a broken hip and shoulder.

If the case is officially classified as homicide, she could make history as Britain's oldest murder victim.

Until now, Harrow, whose MP is Police Minister Tony McNulty, had been considered one of London's safest boroughs.

The incident is further evidence of the burgeoning street crime which leaves the elderly in fear.

Conservative councillor Susan Hall described the attack as horrific.

"It is absolutely shocking, something we would never expect to happen here," she said.

"My personal view is that if you shock someone into death, that is the same as putting a gun to their head.

"This was an innocent old lady going about her business."

The mugging happened on Tuesday last week.

The day after, a man of 27 faced court accused of two robberies, including that of Mrs Sear.

Further charges could be considered following her death. A Scotland Yard source said that to mount a successful prosecution for murder, officers will have to establish a direct link between the robbery and Mrs Sear's death.

"It's difficult, but not impossible," said one. "Murder squad officers are on standby to deal with the case."

In a statement, Mrs Sear's heartbroken family said: "She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother who will be sorely missed."

Born in 1911 in South Wales, Mrs Sear was married in Wealdstone, North London, in

1932. Her husband Herbert died in 1983. They had three children.

The mugging happened after Mrs Sear had visited her 74-year-old daughter Janet West's semi-detached home.

Her other daughter, Barbara, emigrated to the U.S. and runs a restaurant in Ohio. A son, Dennis, died of cancer aged 54.

Mrs Sear's nephew, David Sear, from Watford, said she had been devastated by the death of her 91-year-old sister Isabella - his mother - weeks before the robbery.

Mr Sear, who works as a security guard for a computer firm in London, said that the attack on his aunt left her wanting to die so she could be with her sister.

"The mugging left her in a terrible state. Until then she had been a perfectly independent lady.

"Although she was 96 she got about and visited her family. But Isabella's death was a huge blow and after her mugging she didn't want to live.

"I saw her in hospital after the attack and she had a broken hip and was really bashed up.

'She was ever so low and it was just dreadful to see.

"It is very sad what has happened to Auntie Mary but at least they are now both together again in peace."

A neighbour of Mrs Sear, who had lived in her ground-floor flat for more than 20 years, said: "You would hardly believe she was in her nineties, she was so active.

"She would get up early every day to go and see her daughter and do things around Harrow.

"Her daughter also used to come and see her every Saturday and they would go out shopping.

"Mary loved the family and was so proud of them.

"She was always talking about her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"She also loved all the youngsters in the street and would wave at them when they passed."