IT had all the twists and turns of an Agatha Christie plot - but the sickening tale was anything but fiction.

Those were the words of the son of murder victim Georgina Edmonds as he finally got justice for his beloved mum - eight long years after she was brutally killed in her own home.

The harrowing story of how a frail pensioner was stabbed 37 times before being bludgeoned to death with a rolling pin devastated her family and gripped and frightened a Hampshire community in equal measure.

Today, the family of the 77-year-old say there is justice at last as Matthew Hamlen was convicted of murder, having been forced to stand trial for a second time charged with the killing.

Jurors took just three hours to return their unanimous verdict - just over four years since a previous jury unanimously cleared the now 37-year-old from Eastleigh of the same charge and he walked from court a free man.

Inside and outside of court 3 in Winchester there were emotional scenes as the enormity of what happened took hold with Mrs Edmonds' family - and the distraught relatives of Hamlen.

But it was a moment that Harry Edmonds and his sister Doddie had longed for, having felt robbed of justice four years ago.

Speaking on the steps outside the court, Mr Edmonds said it was of "great regret" that the death penalty was not an option for people like Hamlen.

He said: "The death penalty is no longer a sentencing option for judges in this country and in my view it is a matter of great regret that we can no longer execute the loathsome individuals who commit crimes of this magnitude.

"This investigation has lasted eight long years and, sadly, was not a tale written to entertain people but the true story of a wicked and vicious crime - the torture and murder of a frail and elderly lady in the sanctity of her home - and of the dedicated men and women of Hampshire Constabulary who pursued this devious and vicious murderer and, thank God, finally brought him to justice."

Mr Edmonds told how he would not pass comment on the verdict of the first jury to try Hamlen for his mother's murder.

He said of that time: "This was a considerably shock for my family, the public at large, and all of those dedicated members of the Operation Columbian team who had worked so very hard to find the needle in the haystack that was Matthew Hamlen and bring him to justice."

Speaking on behalf of himself and Doddie, he went on to thank who had made personal sacrifices and shown kindness and dedication in bringing the case to conclusion and praised the many prosecution witnesses who "bravely" gave evidence in court.

In particular they heaped praise on the many members of Hampshire police's major investigation team who he described as "world class" in its "dogged pursuit of justice".

Having named many individually, he added: "However, our most heartfelt thanks go to probably the most self-effacing and modest member of the team, the man most deserving of recognition and without whose skill and sheer dogged determination I would not be standing here today.

"In the eyes of my family Detective Inspector Martin Chudley is a hero and should be treated as one," he said, adding that he would now urge Hampshire's new chief constable that he be publicly recognised for his efforts.