A murder charge has been authorised against the husband of a woman found dead in a car boot in London.
Harshita Brella, 24, was found in a silver Vauxhall Corsa on Brisbane Road, Ilford, east London, on 14 November last year. Her husband, Pankaj Lamba, 23, who is believed to no longer be in the country, was also charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
Police confirmed the charges against him were laid at Northampton magistrates court on Wednesday in his absence and that he had not yet been arrested. It is understood Lamba has not yet been located.
Samantha Shallow, a deputy chief crown prosecutor at the CPS, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has reviewed a file of evidence submitted by the Northamptonshire police, and has authorised a charge of murder against 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba in relation to Harshita Brella’s death.
“Lamba, formerly of Sturton Walk, Corby, is also charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.”
DCI Johnny Campbell, the senior investigation officer, said: “We are committed to securing justice for Harshita and her family and continue to offer our support at this difficult time.
“It remains an active investigation and as such, there continue to be aspects of the case that we are unable to comment on at this time. We would urge all parties to respect the judicial process to ensure the integrity of the proceedings.”
Brella was born in Delhi and had moved to the UK last April, after her marriage to Lamba in August 2023.
