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

[rightsaidfred]

House in Multiple Occupation. Basically it's a house that's been converted into bedsits with unrelated people living in each.

It need not be bedsits - it can just be a regular house share.

The definition of an HMO is simply three or more people from two or more households sharing a home.

That can mean a couple who flat share with a friend, or three friends who flat share.

Some councils require that all HMOs go through a licencing process; others only require it if there's 5+ people.

 

[dotr]

Nov 19, 2024
''New CCTV footage of the prime suspect in the killing of 24-year-old Harshita Brella has been released by police.The footage shows her husband Pankaj Lamba in east London after he is thought to have killed her and abandoned her body in a car boot there. Police believe she was murdered in Corby, where the couple lived, on the 10th of November. Her body was discovered four days later.''

Nov 17, 2024
COPS have launched an international manhunt for the husband of a woman found dead in the boot of a car. Pankaj Lamba is thought to have fled the country following the death of his wife Harshita Brella.

 

[Deleted member 296739]

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

I had the same initial thought as in college if someone’s car “got a boot” was “booted” the parking police had put an immobilization device on the rear tire… then I remembered it the trunk and the bonnet is the hood of the car

 

[Kasmeer]

It need not be bedsits - it can just be a regular house share.

The definition of an HMO is simply three or more people from two or more households sharing a home.

That can mean a couple who flat share with a friend, or three friends who flat share.

Some councils require that all HMOs go through a licencing process; others only require it if there's 5+ people.

I learned something new there - had always assumed it meant 5+ people, as that's the context I usually hear it in! This particlar case was the more sterotypical version:

"...the house involved had been used as an HMO, and at one point last year had 12 people living in it, although it is not currently on the council’s HMO register.
The number of occupants has since reduced. The neighbour said she believed that the house had Bulgarian, Moldovan and Portuguese residents and had been largely peaceful since some noise complaints were resolved last year."

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

Although we now know it's not really relevant to the case anyway if it's Harshita's estranged husband who is being sought; it's more a sign that that's the only kind of roof she could get over her head after leaving him

 

[JennieM]

Inquest opened into the death of Harshita Brella​

IMAGE SOURCE, FAMILY HANDOUT
The inquest into the death of Harshita Brella has been adjourned until 2025

At the inquest in Northampton, senior coroner Anne Pember said the provisional cause of death was "manual strangulation pending toxicology and histology".

The inquest has been adjourned and is set to resume on 21 May 2025.
Ms Pember added that Ms Brella's body "had not yet been released".

Inquest opened into the death of Harshita Brella

The inquest is adjourned and is set to resume on 21 May 2025.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[MollyHarps]

This case is just so sad

On ITV news yesterday they interviewed the mum and sister - the first time they all met him was at the wedding.. then Harshita moved to England with him

He tried to make her cut off contact from the mum & sister.. it was when the sister couldn’t get hold of her she contacted police.

These arranged weddings really need to stop

 

[iamshadow21]

This case is just so sad

On ITV news yesterday they interviewed the mum and sister - the first time they all met him was at the wedding.. then Harshita moved to England with him

He tried to make her cut off contact from the mum & sister.. it was when the sister couldn’t get hold of her she contacted police.

These arranged weddings really need to stop

It's not like love matches are immune from this kind of abuse, violence, and control.

An arranged marriage isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if it involves background checks by family or matchmakers, than that's more than you get meeting someone on a blind date or though Tinder.

Anyone, from any culture or religious background can find themselves in an abusive relationship. Let's focus on the individual that did this, not on a whole cultural practice.

MOO

 

[Skigh]

This case is just so sad

On ITV news yesterday they interviewed the mum and sister - the first time they all met him was at the wedding.. then Harshita moved to England with him

He tried to make her cut off contact from the mum & sister.. it was when the sister couldn’t get hold of her she contacted police.

These arranged weddings really need to stop

I really agree with you.

 

[RobinCAL]

Harshita Brella murder: What we know so far

An international manhunt is under way for the husband of Harshita Brella, whose body was found in a car.

www.bbc.co.uk

TIMELINE :

3 September: Domestic Violence Protection Order issued​

Ms Brella was the subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order in the months before her death.

The order,, external issued by magistrates in September, told Mr Lamba not to harass, pester or intimidate her.

He was also told to pay police £480 in costs.

After 28 days, on 1 October, the order expired.

10 November: Last spoke to family in India​

Her family said they had last spoken to Ms Brella by phone on 10 November.

She told them she had made dinner and was waiting for Mr Lamba to come home.

Her sister, Sonia Dabas, said Ms Brella's phone was off for the next two days, and by 13 November they "thought something was wrong".

13 November: Northamptonshire Police contacted​

Three days later, the family contacted Northamptonshire Police and told the force about their concerns for Ms Brella's welfare. This led to the discovery of her body - and the launch of a murder investigation.

The force referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct - a mandatory step because of officers' previous contact with Ms Brella.

14 November: Harshita Brella's body found in east London​

Ms Brella was found by police in the early hours of 14 November in a vehicle on Brisbane Road, Ilford, 100 miles from her home in Corby.

The following day Northamptonshire Police said a forensic post-mortem examination, which took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary, established Ms Brella was murdered.

17 November: Murder investigation begins​

Northamptonshire Police open a murder investigation, and name Ms Brella's husband, Pankaj Lamba, as the prime suspect.

Officers suspect Mr Lamba has fled the country, prompting an international manhunt.

19 November: Cause of death revealed and new CCTV images released​

Northamptonshire Police said a post-mortem examination found the preliminary cause of death was strangulation.

Detectives also released new CCTV pictures of Mr Lamba and a silver Vauxhall Corsa, which they believe he drove from Corby to Ilford sometime on the morning of 11 November.

20 November: Inquest opened​

The inquest into Ms Brella's death was opened and adjourned at the Guildhall in Northampton.

The Senior Coroner for Northamptonshire, Anne Pember, said Ms Brella's body had not yet been released.

The inquest is set to resume on 21 May 2025.

 

[Kasmeer]

https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/crime/harshita-brella-was-placed-in-refuge-and-classed-as-high-risk-before-her-death-4878215

"Officers said she made a complaint to police on August 29, six days before Northampton Magistrates’ Court made the order.

They also said they placed her in a refuge. It is not known how long she stayed in the refuge. The house in which Harshita was staying in Skegness Walk when she died was only a minute’s walk from the home of her husband, Pankaj Lamba.

They said that she was classed as a ‘high risk’ victim and was visited several times by officers."

 

[Skigh]

Harshita Brella murder investigation: CCTV image released from night officers believe she was killed

Police launched the investigation after Harshita Brella's body was found inside the boot of a car parked in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of last Thursday.

news.sky.com

 

[RobinCAL]

Harshita Brella: Family of woman found dead in car boot in London release statement as manhunt for husband continues

The family of a woman found dead in a car boot in London have paid tribute to her.

news.sky.com

 

[Furore]

I think unfortunately there is no modern justice system that manages risk in domestic violence appropriately. There is a psychology at fault in these abusers that they are obsessive about their victim, they believe they “own” them and should control them - by the point these victims have been asssaulted and emotionally abused enough that even they realise there is something wrong - as often their own self worth and sense of what is normal is completely eroded by the exploitation of what should be a trusting relationship - they are being chronically exploited by someone with serious issues. All the warnings and disposable court orders to do, is enrage abusers and make them feel a huge sense of injustice and anger towards the victim.

These victims are extremely vulnerable - particularly if they are without family, a foreign country, potentially limited understanding of language and customs, let alone dealing with police and the legal system - we end up locking up the victims rather than the perpetrators and I don’t know why culturally you can batter your wife but if you went road clocking strangers in the face every night of the week you’d soon be incarcerated?! It doesn’t make sense at all. All JMO.

 

[Marysmith]

This is such a sad case.

 

[Skigh]

Harshita Brella: Husband of woman found dead in car boot had been arrested over domestic abuse report

The watchdog says it understands the suspected killer was arrested on 3 September and released on bail with a domestic violence protection notice.

news.sky.com

 

[Yellowbelly]

Harshita Brella: Husband of woman found dead in car boot had been arrested over domestic abuse report

The watchdog says it understands the suspected killer was arrested on 3 September and released on bail with a domestic violence protection notice.

news.sky.com

So how does somebody on police bail manage to flee the country? Surely they would have confiscated his passport.

 

[RobinCAL]

Harshita Brella: Corby vigil to remember murdered woman

Crowds gather to remember and pay tribute to the 24-year-old.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[dunkley]

So how does somebody on police bail manage to flee the country? Surely they would have confiscated his passport.

It isn't a given that passports are seized. If the accused has 'community ties', and not considered a flight risk ...

 

[RobinCAL]

Funeral for murdered Harshita Brella held in India

Ms Brella's family say they are frustrated by the pace of a police investigation into her murder.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[RobinCAL]

Husband of Harshita Brella, from Corby, 'got back in her life'

Harshita Brella's sister says Pankaj Lamba worked himself back into his wife's life after he was arrested.

www.bbc.co.uk