Harshita Brella: All the facts as woman found dead in car boot and cops hunt murder suspect husband

The body of Harshita Brella, 24, was found in a car boot in east London some 96 miles away from her home in Corby, Northamptonshire, with police now hunting her husband and suspect Pankaj Lamba

Harshita Brella's body was found in the boot of a car left in east London earlier this week, triggering an international manhunt for her husband Pankaj Lamba who is suspected of murder.

Northamptonshire Police today issued an update on the grisly case after a post mortem in Leicester found the 24-year-old, living in Corby, had been murdered. Dozens of detectives are now investigating the circumstances around her death and are searching for Lamba who is believed to have fled the country.

Police did not reveal what country they believe Lamba had fled to. It is estimated 60 detectives are part of the investigation that are following up on numerous lines of inquiry into the young woman's death.

Husband 'transported body' by car before fleeing

At a press conference on Sunday, police confirmed that they are now searching for Harshita's husband Pankaj Lamba. They said they believe he murdered her earlier this month and transported her body almost 100 miles from Corby to Ilford before fleeing the country.

"Our inquiries lead us to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Northamptonshire earlier this month by her husband Pankaj Lamba, Northamptonshire Police Chief Inspector told press today in Kettering. "We suspect Lamba transported Harshita’s body from Northamptonshire to Ilford by car. We believe he has now fled the country."

Harshita had been victim of domestic violence

Harshita's body was found in a car in Brisbane Road near a park the day after officers were alerted to concerns about her welfare. She had previously been the victim of domestic violence and in early September was made subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order at Northampton Magistrates' Court.

The order, which only lasted 28 days, banned the perpetrator of the violence from visiting her workplace, police said. The person was was prevented from molesting her, from threatening violence, or intimidating, harassing or pestering her, and also told not to encourage or instruct others to contact her in any way.

Northamptonshire Police made a mandatory self-referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police complaints watchdog, after what they described as "previous contact" with Harshita. They later said that they believed there was no risk to the public.

Victim of a 'targeted incident'

Following her murder, forensic officers investigated Harshita's home, 96 miles away from where she was found earlier this week. Police previously said she might have been the victim of a "targeted incident."

"While we are satisfied there is no wider risk to the public, we understand how shocking and distressing such an incident can be for the local community. Our Neighbourhood officers will continue to provide additional patrols in Corby in the coming days for reassurance, and anyone with any concerns is welcome to approach one of these officers who will be happy to help."

Neighbour heard aggressive argument

A neighbour previously told The Mirror she heard an aggressive argument take place between a man and woman in Harshita Brella's house on the same day police were contacted about her welfare. Single mum Kelly Philp, 41, who lived next door said the woman sounded scared during the row.

Her bedroom shares a wall with a room in Harshita's house, she said. “I heard a commotion between a man and a woman and I heard banging around,” she said. "They were arguing in a different language so I couldn’t understand what was being said. But it sounded angry and there were raised voices and the woman sounded scared.

"I had a funeral to attend the day after and had my own daughter to look after so I didn’t call police - I just thought it was a relationship argument.” She added the home had been occupied by around five people, who she believes are Eastern European and that Harshita lived there for around a year.

Last year up to 12 residents were living there, she said, adding people "come and go" from the property. Neighbours said the number of occupants has gone down and the house has been largely peaceful since some noise complaints were resolved last year, the Northampton Chronicle reports.