POLICE have tracked down the family of a homeless woman who was beaten to death in a Walthamstow churchyard.

Melita Jo, who was attacked in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Walthamstow, will now be repatriated to the Philippines.

Detectives managed to trace Mrs Jo’s parents and her sister through the Filipino embassy.

Det Ch Insp John MacDonald confirmed arrangements are ongoing to send her body to the Philippines, where she will receive a Roman Catholic funeral.

Mrs Jo’s beaten body was discovered by a passerby on September 30.

She had been living in the churchyard for some time and was attacked close to the bench where she often slept.

Police discovered Mrs Jo came to Britain and worked as a nanny in various parts of London.

It is believed she became homeless after moving to Wanstead in 2005 and often slept rough close to Redbridge station.

She became well known in the Walthamstow village area after making the graveyard her home.

Hundreds of people turned out for a vigil in her honour at St Mary's.

Many residents in the area have called for CCTV to be installed due to ongoing crime problems.

But Det Insp MacDonald warned it is often ineffective.

He said: "People living near the scenes of murders always call for CCTV cameras but I can guarantee some of them won't work and others will be pointing in the wrong direction."

Jonathan Linzell, 30, of no fixed address, has been charged with Mrs Jo’s murder.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on December 30.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 8345 3985, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.