UK - 2024-Harshita Brella,24,found dead in a car boot in east London, 14th November

[RobinCAL]

Detectives said a murder inquiry has been launched into the "suspicious" discovery in Ilford.

Police said Ms Brella may have been the victim of a "targeted incident".

"Fast track" enquiries were made after the force was contacted by a member of the public with concerns about Mr Brella's welfare. Officers were sent to her home in Skegness Walk, Corby but after getting no answer they launched a missing person investigation.

This led to the discovery of her body inside a car boot.

Woman found dead in car boot named - as murder investigation launched by two police forces

Police believe Harshita Brella was attacked by someone known to her, but say they are keeping an "open mind" about the circumstances leading to her death.

news.sky.com

 

[JennieM]

Pictured: Ilford murder victim Harshita Brella, 24, who was found dead in the boot of a car in East London a day after she was reported missing - as police say she was attacked by someone known to her​

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), said: 'First of all, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to everyone who loved Harshita Brella.

<modsnip - posting more than 10% is a copyright violation - see link>

Pictured: Ilford murder victim Harshita Brella, 24, found dead in boot

Harshita Brella was reported missing on November 13 by the authorities after police conducted a welfare check at her home in Skegness Walk, Corby and got no answer.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

A forensic postmortem examination, which took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary yesterday, confirmed that Harshita had been murdered.

No arrests have yet been made, but the police have said that they believe Harshita was attacked by 'someone known to her', although they are keeping at 'open mind'.

The force has claimed that the incident is an isolated one and there is no wider threat to the public.

Northamptonshire Police has also referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact they had with her.

Harshita Brella was reported missing on November 13 by the authorities after Northamptonshire Police conducted a welfare check at her home in Skegness Walk, Corby and got no answer

Map showing the location that Harshita's body was discovered on Brisbane road

Pictured: Ilford murder victim Harshita Brella, 24, found dead in boot

Harshita Brella was reported missing on November 13 by the authorities after police conducted a welfare check at her home in Skegness Walk, Corby and got no answer.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[JennieM]

Corby murder inquiry – police name victim as Harshita Brella​

Anyone who has any information that could help detectives bring Harshita’s killer to justice, is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 24000678713.

Alternatively information can be submitted via an online portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk) or by calling Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.

Northamptonshire Police has also made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact between the Force and the victim.

https://www.northants.police.uk/news/northants/news/news/2024/november/corby-murder-inquiry--police-name-victim-as-harshita-brella/

 

[Lucy6226]

Police have said that she was attacked by someone known to her, but no arrests, no named suspect and apparently no risk to the wider public??
Stalker? Date? It's weird.

 

[JennieM]

Police have said that she was attacked by someone known to her, but no arrests, no named suspect and apparently no risk to the wider public??
Stalker? Date? It's weird.

I am thinking family?

 

[Kasmeer]

Local news suggests "domestic", given multiple residents in the household, I imagine housemate is also possible along with partner/family:

https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/crime/corby-woman-found-dead-in-boot-of-vehicle-as-police-launch-murder-investigation-4869857

A scene guard is still in place at the home in Corby. Forensic officers have already carried out extensive searches. It’s thought at present the incident is a targeted domestic crime. [my note - article from early today, this may be out of date by now]

A neighbour told our reporters [...] that the house involved had been used as an HMO [...] and had been largely peaceful since some noise complaints were resolved last year.

But earlier this week she heard a commotion.

"The way that gate slammed I knew something had happened.
“Someone took off quickly.

“I had heard banging coming from the house and then they obviously just legged it.

 

[PoirotPink]

Police have said that she was attacked by someone known to her, but no arrests, no named suspect and apparently no risk to the wider public??
Stalker? Date? It's weird.

I read that as someone "known to her" but not currently known to the police. It's likely that they've reached this conclusion if she (initially) went willingly with whoever murdered her and / or there were no signs of forced entry, distress etc.

 

[Columbo Was The Best]

All my speculation, of course, as only her name has been published in newspapers. This is either an honour killing carried out by a male family member (the family not accepting she might have had a relationship with a man from another caste) or a man who could not accept no for an answer. Absolute tragedy, only 24 years old.

 

[RobinCAL]

Young woman found in boot had restraining order against abuser before her death

Harshita Brella, who was found dead in the boot of a car 100 miles from her home, had been under the protection of an order to protect victims of domestic violence shortly before her death

www.mirror.co.uk

A young woman murdered and put in the boot of a car had been under the protection of a court order designed to protect victims of domestic violence.

Harshita Brella, 24, was previously the victim of domestic violence and in early September was made subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) at Northampton Magistrates’ Court.

The order, which only lasted 28 days, banned the perpetrator of the violence from visiting her workplace, Northamptonshire Police confirmed today.

 

[JennieM]

Did the police do enough to protect her or not? Could they have prevented her death or not? The IOPC will investigate.

In most cases we find that when women get murdered after reporting domestic crimes, their deaths were preventable and they did not receive enough help IMO.

 

[Amonet]

All my speculation, of course, as only her name has been published in newspapers. This is either an honour killing carried out by a male family member (the family not accepting she might have had a relationship with a man from another caste) or a man who could not accept no for an answer. Absolute tragedy, only 24 years old.

She might not have been of a religion that has castes. Even for women who are of a religion with castes, I think domestic or boyfriend or date or stranger would be the higher risks for murder. Massive press is given to victims of honour killings, but I think they are rarer than other murders for young women from those backgrounds.

 

[JennieM]

This order, served by Northamptonshire Police and lasting 28 days, barred an alleged attacker from visiting her workplace, as well as banning him from molesting her, threatening violence, intimidating, harassing or pestering Ms Brella.

No formal charges are thought to have been recorded against the man, who was reportedly released after a court hearing but ordered to pay its full costs.

Harshita's body was discovered almost 100 miles from her home in Northamptonshire

Police ramp up search for prime suspect in murder of Harshita Brella

Her body was discovered in the back of a vehicle on Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London, after being killed by someone Northamptonshire Police believe was 'known to her'.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Amonet]

This order, served by Northamptonshire Police and lasting 28 days, barred an alleged attacker from visiting her workplace, as well as banning him from molesting her, threatening violence, intimidating, harassing or pestering Ms Brella.

No formal charges are thought to have been recorded against the man, who was reportedly released after a court hearing but ordered to pay its full costs.

Harshita's body was discovered almost 100 miles from her home in Northamptonshire

Police ramp up search for prime suspect in murder of Harshita Brella

Her body was discovered in the back of a vehicle on Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London, after being killed by someone Northamptonshire Police believe was 'known to her'.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I'm curious who the car belonged to and who was driving it.

 

[JennieM]

I'm curious who the car belonged to and who was driving it.

It could even be a rental.

 

[Rosydecember]

Being from the US, I’m not sure i understand the “found in a car boot”. I’m picturing a car that has a boot to keep it from moving, but it says in a car boot not that the car has a boot. Can someone kindly explain? I don’t know if this is a regional thing or if I am having a severe blonde moment. Thank you! Not moo a genuine question

 

[Snoopster]

Being from the US, I’m not sure i understand the “found in a car boot”. I’m picturing a car that has a boot to keep it from moving, but it says in a car boot not that the car has a boot. Can someone kindly explain? I don’t know if this is a regional thing or if I am having a severe blonde moment. Thank you! Not moo a genuine question

boot means the trunk of the car. That's what people in the UK call it.

 

[Kittypoo]

Being from the US, I’m not sure i understand the “found in a car boot”. I’m picturing a car that has a boot to keep it from moving, but it says in a car boot not that the car has a boot. Can someone kindly explain? I don’t know if this is a regional thing or if I am having a severe blonde moment. Thank you! Not moo a genuine question

Boot is Uk word for the trunk ie storage at the rear of the car

 

[Rosydecember]

@Snoopster and @Kittypoo thank you both very much!!

 

[Furore]

Prime suspect now husband say police

Harshita Brella: Police search for husband who ‘fled country’ after body found in car

Police have released an image of Harshita Brella’s husband Pankaj Lamba

www.independent.co.uk