UK police launch international manhunt for husband of woman found dead in car boot

The body of 24-year-old Corby resident Harshita Brella was found stuffed into the boot of a car on Brisbane Road in Ilford, East London on Thursday (14 November), prompting the launch of a murder inquiry.

Northamptonshire Police have named Harshita’s husband Pankaj Lamba as the prime suspect.

Speaking at a press conference in Kettering, Chief Inspector Paul Cash said: “Inquiries lead us to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Northamptonshire earlier this month by her husband Pankaj Lamba.

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“We suspect Lamba transported Harshita’s body from Northamptonshire to Ilford by car. We believe he has now fled the country.”

The body of 24-year-old Harshita Brella was found inside a car boot in Ilford, London (PA/Northamptonshire Police)

The body of 24-year-old Harshita Brella was found inside a car boot in Ilford, London (PA/Northamptonshire Police)

Police had been contacted the day before her body was found by a member of the public who was concerned about Harshita’s welfare, with officers visiting her home in Skegness Walk and not being able to find anyone.

A missing person investigation led to the discovery of the car and the 24-year-old’s body hidden in the boot.

A police spokesperson previously confirmed that Harshita Brella had been targeted by domestic violence, and in September of this year Northampton Magistrates’ Court had granted her a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO).

The 28 day order reportedly banned the person who committed the violence against her from visiting the woman at her workplace, and from harassing or threatening her or attempting to get others to do the same.

Formal charges against the perpetrator of the violence were not recorded by the court and they were subsequently released, though ordered to pay full costs.

Police have named Pankaj Lamba as a murder suspect, and believe he has fled the country (PA/Northamptonshire Police)

Police have named Pankaj Lamba as a murder suspect, and believe he has fled the country (PA/Northamptonshire Police)

The police investigation into the 24-year-old’s death continues with over 60 detectives now working on the case, with Chief Inspector Cash appealing to the public for any further information.

“If you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us,” he said.

“We would always rather receive well-meaning information that turns out to be nothing as opposed to not receiving it all.”

Extra police patrols will be carried out in Corby to reassure the public, though officers believe there is not a wider risk.

Anyone who may have information is asked to call police on 101 quoting Operation Westcott, or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Information can also be submitted online at mipp.police.uk.

Featured Image Credit: Northamptonshire Police

Topics: UK NewsCrime

Shocking moment teenager who killed four-month-old baby calls police ‘boring’ in interview

Shocking moment teenager who killed four-month-old baby calls police ‘boring’ in interview

Carl Alesbrook has been found guilty of killing four-month-old infant Elijah Shemwell

Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper

Here is the shocking moment in which a teenager accused of killing his girlfriend’s four-month-old baby son called the police ‘boring’ during an interview.

Earlier this year, Carl Alesbrook, from Derbyshire, was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend India Shemwell’s baby Elijah in January 2022, after the infant was discovered ‘pale, limp and drowsy’ in his mother’s home.

Elijah is said to have suffered ‘whiplash-type injuries’ as well as multiple fractures to his limbs, and died three days after he was discovered.

Carl Alesbrook has been found guilty of killing four-month-old Elijah Shemwell (Derbyshire Police)

Carl Alesbrook has been found guilty of killing four-month-old Elijah Shemwell (Derbyshire Police)

A court heard how on 2 January, Shemwell had phoned for an ambulance for her son, with prior video footage taken by the mother showing Elijah to be ‘gasping for breath’ as well as unresponsive.

The court also learnt that Shemwell would often leave Elijah in the care of then then 16-year-old Alesbrook, despite only knowing him for seven weeks prior to her son’s death.

Footage released from the investigation reveals Alesbrook being initially questioned over the circumstances of Elijah’s death, as well as clips taken from later police interviews.

In the clip, an officer confronts Alesbrook over a previous claim in which he stated he had contacted police to ask where they were after the child had taken ill – which was later proven to be false.

Teenager who killed four month baby calls police ‘boring’
Credit: Derbyshire Police
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“This was a lie, there is no message saying ‘where are you?'” the officer tells him, before going on to add: “We have interrogated your phone and that is not confirmed on there. What do you have to say about this?”

Leaning against the wall, Alesbrook shockingly mumbles: “F**k all.”

The officer interviewing him then presses the teenager over previous claims that he’d made in previous interviews stating he was asleep and unaware Shemwell wasn’t in the flat.

To these questions he shockingly responded: “I say you’re boring man.”

Alesbrook, 19, had denied causing harm to Elijah but was subsequently convicted by a jury of causing the child’s fatal injuries by violently shaking him.

Elijah's mother India Shemwell has also been sentenced to three years in prison (Derbyshire Police)

Elijah’s mother India Shemwell has also been sentenced to three years in prison (Derbyshire Police)

He has since been sentenced to a minimum of 14 years in prison for the crime. Meanwhile, Shemwell, now 24, has received a total of three years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of child cruelty.

Speaking about the case, DCI Greg McGill, who led the investigation into Elijah’s death, said in a statement: “Carl Alesbrook was 16 years old at the time of Elijah’s death.

“While a child himself, even a teenager knows the fatal risks posed by shaking a four-month-old baby boy.

“He tried to hoodwink the jury by spinning a story that sought to cover up his guilt – but they saw through his lies and half-truths, and I am grateful for their careful consideration that has ultimately found him guilty.”

Featured Image Credit: PA/Derbyshire Police

Topics: CrimeUK NewsParenting

Neighbour of woman who had joke skeleton that was actually her husband speaks out about moment she found it

Neighbour of woman who had joke skeleton that was actually her husband speaks out about moment she found it

Michelle James found herself at the centre of a murder investigation

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

A woman who ended up becoming a murder suspect after retrieving what she thought was an old plastic medical skeleton from her neighbour’s garden has spoken out about the bizarre saga.

Michelle James has told how she was left stunned after what was meant to be an innocent prank landed her in handcuffs and under arrest for suspicion of murder.

The 45-year-old, who lived in the Welsh village of Beddau, Pontypridd, explained she had no idea about the chilling revelations which came out of the woodworks when she decided to pull a practical joke on residents.

Take a look at this:

The Body Next Door
Sky
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It all started when her neighbour, Leigh Ann Sabine, passed away in November 2015 following her cancer diagnosis.

For years, the late nurse had told her neighbours that she had an old medical skeleton in her flat as a nod to her profession in the healthcare sector.

And when she passed away at the age of 74, all of her belongings – including the bundle of bones – were dumped in a communal garden near her home.

Michelle decided to have some fun with the supposed old medical skeleton she’d heard so much about and went to retrieve it from the pile to pull a prank on one of her neighbours.

At the time, she said as per The Daily Mail: “Me and another neighbour wanted to get the skeleton and sit it on a friend’s settee to give him a shock when he got home.

“We took two kitchen knives and headed out to the patio, but were surprised how well wrapped up the thing was.”

The skeleton was bound tightly in up to 20cm of polythene sheeting, as well as layers of carpet.

Leigh Ann Sabine managed to get away with murder (Juliet Eden)

Leigh Ann Sabine managed to get away with murder (Juliet Eden)

“The knife cut through the plastic, but then hit cardboard and finally tin foil,” Michelle continued. “Suddenly, a pool of black sludge poured out, all over my hands and arms.

“And we were hit by the worst smell you can imagine. I started screaming, ‘It’s a body, a real body!'”

When two police officers turned up to take a look at the discovery, they were reportedly physically sick after examining the contents of the bag – while Michelle was frantically explaining how she found it.

One of the first on the scene, PC Joy Nicholls of South Wales Police, said the smell was ‘overwhelming’, while adding: “It obviously wasn’t a medical skeleton.”

Despite insisting she had merely intended to pull a prank on her pal, Michelle was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The strange case which rocked the Welsh village of Beddau is currently the subject of a three-part Sky Documentary seriesThe Body Next Door, which delves into the disturbing true crime case.

The 74-year-old had told neighbours she had an old medical skeleton in her flat from her nursing days (Juliet Eden)

The 74-year-old had told neighbours she had an old medical skeleton in her flat from her nursing days (Juliet Eden)

Michelle claimed that she continuously told cops that whoever the skeleton really belonged to was connected to Leigh, but she ended up spending three days in custody while an investigation got underway.

She told how she was shown images of what was inside the discarded bag – including a skull with a dent in it, as well as a hand which sported a gold signet ring on one of the fingers.

A pathologist believed that the body was a man in his 40s, who had died as a result of blunt-force trauma.

Three long weeks passed before DNA tests finally proved that the body – which was still dressed in blue Marks and Spencer pyjamas – belonged to Leigh’s husband John, who was last seen alive in 1997.

The confirmation that the body belonged to John led police to delve deeper into Leigh’s life.

Police would later discover that John and Leigh had previously lived in Australia, and welcomed five children together – before they abandoned them at an orphanage in New Zealand.

After further investigation into the pyjamas found on John’s body and shopping bags used in the wrapping, police deduced that he had died in the late 90s – however, they still couldn’t determine an exact date and cause of death.

That was until a former friend of the Leigh’s came forward with some pretty damning evidence.

Michelle James ended up as a murder suspect after she discovered the remains of Leigh's husband, John (Juliet Eden)

Michelle James ended up as a murder suspect after she discovered the remains of Leigh’s husband, John (Juliet Eden)

Recalling an unnerving phone call between herself and Leigh in 1997, the woman said recalled the former nurse claiming that she’d ‘battered’ John with a stone frog as he was ‘getting on her nerves’.

The pal hadn’t thought much about the conversation until the discovery of the body, and the phone call ended up being enough to link Leigh to her husband‘s murder.

Police would later recover the ornament, which revealed traces of John’s blood alongside Leigh’s fingerprints.

Officers were finally able to put together a case and motive for John’s death and theorising that Leigh had murdered her husband in his sleep before hiding his remains in her flat until the time of her death.

As for the motive, authorities believed Leigh had grown resentful to John over his regrets about abandoning their children.

As for the responses of their kids, daughter Jane Sabine would later go on record saying: “I have no doubt my mother was capable of murder.”

Leigh Ann Sabine was interviewed and photographed by Juliet Eden a year before her death. The author has also written a book about the case, The Frog Murderer, which you can find here.

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