Pictured: Mother of two antiques dealer, 50, who was beaten to death so severely that police 'thought she had been shot' as questioning continues of murder suspect, 52 Robyn Mercer, 50, found with severe head injuries outside £850,000 home Antiques dealer 'rarely seen' with partner Robert Webb, 52, at Surrey home Silver expert worked at upmarket dealers in Mayfair and was a keen rower Neighbours said her injuries so severe 'police thought she had been shot' A 52-year-old man is being held in police custody on suspicion of murder

Pictured: Mother of two antiques dealer, 50, who was beaten to death so severely that police 'thought she had been shot' as questioning continues of murder suspect, 52

• Robyn Mercer, 50, found with severe head injuries outside £850,000 home 
• Antiques dealer 'rarely seen' with partner Robert Webb, 52, at Surrey home
• Silver expert worked at upmarket dealers in Mayfair and was a keen rower
• Neighbours said her injuries so severe 'police thought she had been shot'
• A 52-year-old man is being held in police custody on suspicion of murder 

This is the 50-year-old antiques dealer who was found battered to death on her doorstep with injuries so severe that police 'thought she had been shot'.

Robyn Mercer, an expert in 16th century silver spoons, was found yesterday morning with gruesome head injuries on the front lawn of her £850,000 home in West Molesey, Surrey.

Neighbours said the mother-of-two, a partner at prestigious London antiques dealership J.H. Bourdon-Smith, was found face down in a large pool of blood just yards from the front door of the semi-detached home that she shared with her 52-year-old partner Robert Webb. 

Robyn Mercer (pictured left and right) was found in the front garden of her £850,000 home in West Molesey, Surrey, yesterday with gruesome head injuries

They said police, who fear she had been there all night, initially thought she had been shot because of the severity of her wounds.  

It is also feared that one of her children might have been inside the house at the time Ms Mercer's body was found. Residents said Ms Mercer, who was a keen rower, had an 18-year-old daughter and an older son.