by Ross Lidbetter and Rob Garratt

ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk

A woman who was murdered in Croydon last night (Thursday) had just recovered from a life-threatening illness.

Officers were called to a residential address in Miller Road, Croydon, at around 8.15pm.

They found the lifeless body of Beryl Gilchrist, 58, who was also known as Nazarine Samuel.

Officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command unit say she had been assaulted.

The Nazarine Samuel Ministries Elelyon The House of Prayer for all Nations was based at her home.

She was also a member of the Christ Embassy Church in Purley Way, having joined just a few weeks ago.

On Sunday, she gave an inspirational talk on overcoming a life-threatening illness that she was believed to have been suffering from for a long period of time.

Church member Paul Philip, 29, of South Croydon, said: "I'm upset that it happened to someone I was trying to get to know.

"We came down to check on her -- we thought maybe she needed a prayer -- when we got here we found that wouldn't help.

"On Sunday she gave a testimonial thanking God for her life. She was sick for a long time and now she was very happy, there was a lot of passion in her. She said she had been fighting the sickness a long time."

Jackie Ndiwnei, another church member, added: "Yesterday we tried to call her but she wasn't answering her phone, so we came round today. I'm too upset to talk."

Neighbour David Rice, 57, said: "She was a nice lady who would smile when she walked up and down. It's terrible what has happened."

One neighbour, who was out at the time, said the first she heard of it was when her daughter texted her to say she had heard a loud argument followed by a scream.

The neighbour, who wished not be named, rushed back to her home minutes later to find police cars and a man being led away in handcuffs.

She added: "I can't believe we were sitting watching TV and someone was being killed at the time."

Neighbour Shirley West, 72, said: "I heard the sirens last night. It is a shock, there's never been anything like this down here. You normally hear different things happening in other roads nearby."

Another neighbour Shane Worrell added: "I've been here for 17 years and I've known her since I moved in. At first, she had two sons living there and they left. She lives on her own but has friends round. She was fine as a neighbour, we would say 'hello' and talk now and again. What's happened is too close to home."

London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 34-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody at a south London police station.

Officers continue to investigate the circumstances of the murder.