Harshita Brella: Inquest opens into death of woman, 24, found in car boot in London as manhunt continues
Police believe Ms Brella was murdered by her husband, 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba, who has since fled the country.
Wednesday 20 November 2024 12:51, UK
An inquest has opened into the death of 24-year-old Harshita Brella, whose body was found in a car boot in east London.聽
An international manhunt continues for her husband, who police say is the prime suspect in their murder investigation.
Senior coroner Anne Pember said the preliminary cause of death has been given as manual strangulation, pending further test results.
Opening the hearing at Northampton Coroner's Court this morning, she also said Ms Brella's body has not yet been released.
Ms Pember said: "The East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit have informed me that Harshita was murdered at her home in Corby by her husband Pankaj Lamba. Her husband is then believed to have fled the country."
The search for Lamba, 23, was launched after Ms Brella, who was living in Corby, Northamptonshire, was found in a silver Vauxhall Corsa parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford, in the early hours of Thursday.
Detectives from Northamptonshire Police believe she was murdered in Corby on the evening of Sunday 10 November before her body was driven to Ilford the following day.
The coroner adjourned the inquest into Ms Brella's death until 21 May next year.
Police released new CCTV images of Lamba on Tuesday, showing him in east London.
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A police spokesman confirmed Ms Brella had previously been the victim of domestic violence and was made the subject of a domestic violence protection order (DVPO) at Northampton Magistrates' Court in September.
Northamptonshire Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because of previous contact with Ms Brella.