Family of Harshita Brella pay tribute after she was found dead in car boot

The family of Harshita Brella, whose body was found dumped in the boot of a car in east London last week, have paid tribute to her, saying she is ‘still with us in our hearts and always will be’.

The 24-year-old is believed to have been murdered in Corby, Northamptonshire, late on November 10 before her body was driven 100 miles down to Ilford and abandoned.

Her preliminary cause of death was manual strangulation, an inquest heard this week.

An international manhunt is underway for her husband Pankaj Lamba, 23, who was seen walking with Harshita just hours before she was killed.

Detectives believe he has since fled the country.

In a statement released through the police today, Harshita’s family said: ‘Harshita, you left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there.

‘We will never forget you till our last breath. Always stay with us.

‘We miss you in every moment of our life.’

On Thursday, Northamptonshire Police said detectives want to hear from people who were in the area around Corby Boating Lake, Cottingham Road and Westcott Way on the evening of November 10, and who may have dashcam footage or other information that could assist the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, from the East Midlands Special Operations major crime unit, said: ‘Our inquiries have established that Pankaj and Harshita were in the area of the boating lake on Sunday evening, and as part of our ongoing investigation we have carried out searches in the surrounding area.

‘We know that it’s a busy part of the town and there will have been a lot of passing traffic.

‘As such, we’re appealing to anyone who was in Corby between 6pm and 9pm on Sunday, November 10, specifically in the area around the Corby Boating Lake, Cottingham Road and Westcott Way.

‘If you have any dashcam footage, or other information that may be relevant to the investigation, however small, please contact us as soon as possible.’

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