It is believed that a woman who was found dead in an Ilford car boot was killed from being strangled.
Harshita Brella, 24, was found inside the boot of a car parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford, in the early hours last Thursday (November 14).
Following a forensic post-mortem examination carried out at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Friday (November 15), the preliminary cause of death was found to be strangulation.
Northamptonshire Police has said that detectives are continuing to “work around the clock” to establish the full circumstances behind Harshita’s death.
Inquiries led detectives to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Corby, Northampton, on the evening of Sunday (November 10), by her husband, 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba of Sturton Walk, Corby.
They suspect Lamba then transported Harshita’s body from Corby to Ilford by car. The car was left parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford, and detectives believe Lamba then fled the country.
New CCTV images have been released by the force, which police hope will prompt anyone who may have interacted with him between Sunday (November 10) and Monday (November 11), to contact police.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), said: “While I appreciate there is a lot of speculation in the media, we would ask people to think carefully about the obligations we have to bring justice by maintaining the integrity of the investigation.
“However, the investigation continues at pace and we are following numerous lines of inquiry.
“Our inquiries have established that Pankaj Lamba drove a Silver Vauxhall Corsa (pictured) from Corby to Ilford sometime on the morning of Monday, November 11.
“We suspect Harshita’s body had been placed in the boot of the vehicle by Lamba before leaving Corby. Lamba then abandoned the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford and made his getaway."
“We are continuing to appeal for information and I would urge anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or had any sightings of Pankaj Lamba in Corby, Ilford or elsewhere in the days leading up to the discovery of Harshita’s body, to contact police as soon as possible.
“Any information, no matter how small, may be relevant to the investigation and help us get justice for Harshita.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room by calling 101, quoting Operation Westcott.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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