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

by · Mail Online

Car boot murder victim Harshita Brella was made the subject of a court order designed to protect people against domestic violence just two months before she was found dead, it has been revealed. 

Police are stepping up the hunt for a prime suspect in the murder of the 24-year-old after she was discovered in the back of a vehicle in Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London - almost 100 miles from her home in Corby, Northamptonshire. 

Police believe she was killed by someone who was 'known to her' and news of the court order emerged this morning.

Ms Brella was made made subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order at Northampton Magistrates Court in early September, according to the Northants Telegraph.

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. 

The new probe follows alarms being raised last Wednesday when Northamptonshire Police received a call regarding concerns over Harshita's welfare. 

Officers were sent round to her home address in Skegness Walk in Corby, Northamptonshire, but received no answer at the door. 

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
Officers are seen on Sunday morning at murder victim Harshita Brella's Corby home
Harshita's body was discovered almost 100 miles from her home in Northamptonshire

A missing person investigation was launched and after enquiries were fast-tracked she was found in Ilford on Thursday - some 95.7 miles away from the shared house she lived in.

Officers are today continuing to search for whoever was responsible, as they appealed for anyone with information to get in touch as soon as possible - while the force is also putting in place extra patrols around Corby.

Forensic officers in protective wear were this morning seen visiting her home in Corby while uniformed police guarded the property. 

Meanwhile, one local in Ilford told MailOnline: 'They seemed to be focusing on a car. It's horrific. It's quite an unsafe area. That poor woman must have gone through hell. It's deeply shocking. I've felt sick. She must have gone through so much pain.'

They continued: 'Officers swarmed all over the street and were here for hours. It looked incredibly serious.

'There was screaming on the street earlier in the week. It's rough around here so I didn't bat an eyelid. There's always drug dealing and attacks and all sorts.' 

A forensic postmortem examination, which took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Friday, confirmed that Harshita had been murdered, but no arrests have yet been made, according to the police force.

Aneighbour at Harshita's home in Corby told the Northampton Chronicle that the house the young woman lived in had been used as an HMO (house in multiple occupation), and at one point last year had 12 people living in it.

The number of occupants has since reduced and the neighbour said she believed that the house had Bulgarian, Moldovan and Portuguese residents. 

Police were seen at her home in Corby, Northamptonshire, on Sunday morning as the murder probe continues
Police were today pictured guarding Harshita Brella's home in Corby, as Northamptonshire Police said extra patrols would be put on in the area to help reassure residents
Forensic officers were seen visiting Harshita Brella's Corby home on Sunday morning
Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London. A forensic postmortem examination, which took place at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Friday, confirmed that Harshita had been murdered
Police cordoned off the scene where Harshita Brella's body was then found in the back of a vehicle in Ilford, east London - almost 100 miles away from her Northamptonshire home
A murder investigation is ongoing after the 24-year-old's body was found in a car boot near the entrance of Valentines Park in Ilford, East London
 A general view of Skegness Walk in Corby where Harshita Brella lived in a house share

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Mystery of murder victim Harshita Brella's 100-mile final journey

The property had been largely peaceful since some noise complaints were resolved last year, the neighbour added. 

But she said that earlier this week she heard a commotion, adding: '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. The police have been here about four days.'

Forensic officers spent hours at the scene of the car, only removing a tent there on Friday.

And police have been asking locals whether they had seen any suspicious activity in the area - especially relating to men.

One person, who asked not to be named, said: 'It's a mystery how she ended up here - the poor woman.

'Officers asked me if I'd seen anything suspicious - they basically asked if any dodgy men had been in the area.

'They seem to suggest they know who did it. From what they said to me, I bet it sounds like a man who knew her. They seemed to want to know about men in particular.'

A missing person investigation was launched and after enquiries were fast-tracked she was found on Brisbane Road (pictured), Ilford, on Thursday - some 95.7 miles away from her home
Map showing the location that Harshita's body was discovered on Brisbane Road
The body of the woman was found in the boot of a car on Brisbane Road, pictured, in Ilford

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Shop worker Paul Sidebottom, 54, said police had spent hours in the street and had asked locals for CCTV.

He said: 'Our shop CCTV hasn't shown anything. They asked if I'd seen or heard anything. They seemed very concerned.'

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

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.

'She was a young woman in her early 20s with her whole life ahead of her and it is absolutely tragic that her life has been cut short in this way.

'Detectives from EMSOU and Northamptonshire Police are working around the clock to establish the circumstances behind her death, including the exact location and timeframe in which it took place.'

The force said officers were satisfied there was no wider risk to the public as a result of this incident, but said extra patrols will be taking place in Corby in the coming days 'for reassurance purposes'.

Anyone with any concerns is welcome to approach one of these officers who will be happy to help, Northamptonshire Police added.

Map showing the location of Harshita Brella's home on Skegness Walk in Corby 
Police are today continuing to search for whoever was responsible for Harshita Brella's death, as they appealed for anyone with information to get in touch as soon as possible

And DCI Campbell is appealing to anyone who may have information about this incident to come forward.

He added: 'Although we believe Harshita was attacked by someone known to her, we are keeping an open mind, and would appeal to anyone who knew her to contact us with any relevant information they may have.

'If you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us. We would always rather receive well-meaning information that turns out to be nothing as opposed to not receiving it all.'

Anyone who may have information that could assist police inquiries is asked to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.