The critically-injured husband who survived a suspected burglary where his 86-year-old-wife was brutally murdered has briefly regained consciousness.
No arrests have yet been made in connection with the attack on Freda Walker and 88-year-old Kenneth Walker, who is in hospital.
But Mr Walker is said to be drifting in and out of consciousness after his condition stabilised.
Derbyshire Police said paramedics were called to the couple's home in Station Road, Langwith Junction, Shirebrook, near Bolsover, early on Saturday.
Mrs Walker was pronounced dead at the scene while her husband was found with life-threatening injuries.
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Kirby told reporters the force could not rule out the incident being a targeted attack, but there was nothing to suggest it was related to Mr Walker's work as a councillor.
Addressing Mr Walker's condition, ACC Kirby said: 'I can't talk specifically about injuries but I can say he's in a critical but stable condition.
'I think it's reasonable to say in the next few days we'll have more understanding of the prognosis as well.
'I believe he's been in and out of consciousness.'
Police are investigating attack on Freda Walker, who was 86, and husband Kenneth Walker, 88
Floral tributes left outside the couple's home, which is suspected to have been burgled
Police and emergency crews have been working at the scene for days trying to find clues
Detectives are also understood to be looking at whether another burglary earlier this month could be connected
Derbyshire Police revealed yesterday they were keeping an 'open mind' about whether the attack was linked to a violent burglary in Trowell, Notts.
During that incident, a robber broke in while a couple, in their 80s, slept and demanded money as he repeatedly punched them on January 6.
Today the force said it was also looking at a number of similar offences that may have happened 'months, years or weeks' ago to see if they are connected.
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Kirby, of Derbyshire Police, branded the murder 'an act of horrendous cowardice' as he re-appealed for help from the public.
Speaking at the scene, he said: 'Ken remains in a critical condition in hospital.
'Our thoughts are with him and friends and family and we wish him all the best but he is still in a critical condition.
'We are following a number of significant lines of enquiry, lots of work to do and we have a huge amount of dedicated resources deployed.
'There will be somebody out there in the community who will know something that might help us.
Police have launched a murder investigation after an 88-year-old woman was killed and her husband, 88, suffered life-threatening injuries at their village home
Criminals were being hunted today as the culprit was on the loose after the murder
