Woman believed to be of South Asian descent was found murdered in the boot of a car in England

A 24-year-old woman, believed to be of South Asian origin, was found murdered in the boot of a car in east London, following a missing person investigation launched for her in England’s East Midlands region.

Northamptonshire Police identified the victim as Harshita Brella on Saturday night and police launched a murder investigation and appeal for information in the case.

Police said they received a call about concerns for Harshita’s welfare on Wednesday and officers were dispatched to his home address in Skegness Walk in Corby, Northamptonshire.

Receiving no response, police launched a missing person investigation and rapid investigations were launched; As a result, the victim’s body was found in the boot of a vehicle on Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of Thursday. .

An autopsy was carried out at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Friday and the murder victim was identified as Harshita Brella, whose name indicates she was of South Asian descent, although there is no further confirmation of her family history at this stage of the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, Senior Investigating Officer at the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), said: “Firstly I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to everyone who loved Harshita Brella.”

“She was a young woman in her early 20s with her whole life ahead of her and it is absolutely tragic that her life was cut short like this. “Detectives from EMSOU and Northamptonshire Police are working around the clock to establish the circumstances behind the death and the exact location and time period when it occurred.”

Investigators believe Harshita was killed in a “targeted incident” and are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

“While we believe Harshita was attacked by someone she knew, we remain open-minded and urge anyone who knows her to contact us with any relevant information they have,” Campbell said.

If you have seen anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us. “We’d rather receive well-intentioned information that always turns out to be nothing than not get it all,” he said.

Police said officers were satisfied there was no wider risk to the public as a result of this incident, but additional patrols would be carried out in Corby in the coming days for reassurance.

Northamptonshire Police made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as required, due to previous contact between the force and the victim.

“Shortly after midnight on Thursday morning, November 14, officers from Northamptonshire Police contacted the Met and expressed concerns about the welfare of a woman believed to be in a car in east London,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. .

“The car was parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford and the body of a 24-year-old woman was found inside the vehicle,” the spokesman said.

Police investigators are currently trying to establish the connection between Harshita’s disappearance from his home in Corby, about 145 km north of London, and his body being found dead in a car in the British capital a few days later.