Harshita Brella’s neighbour heard ‘banging’ rows in days before death

A neighbour of a 24-year-old woman found dead in the boot of a car heard a "banging" row days before her body was discovered.

Kelly Philp, who lived next door to Harshita Brella in Corby, Northamptonshire , said she overheard an argument between a man and a woman on Wednesday.

Ms Brella's body was discovered almost 100 miles away from her home, inside a vehicle on Brisbane Road in Ilford, East London , on Thursday.

Ms Philp, 41, told the Daily Mirror: "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 heard a commotion between a man and a woman and I heard banging around. I didn't call police. I just thought it was a relationship argument."

She described feeling "vulnerable" and "on edge" after learning what had happened to Ms Brella.

"I feel so sad about the loss of the lass. I can't get over it," she said. "I can't believe it."

Ms Philp said she had also overheard two men arguing in a foreign language early on Saturday, shortly after a back gate slammed shut.

An international manhunt is now underway for Ms Brella's husband, Pankaj Lamba, who Northamptonshire Police have named as the prime suspect in the murder of the 24-year-old.

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

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

'Working around the clock' The force was contacted on Wednesday by a member of the public concerned for Ms Brella's welfare.

Officers went to her home in Skegness Walk, Corby, but received no answer.

Neighbours described the address as a multiple occupancy property that had previously housed up to 12 people, The Times reported.

A missing person investigation was launched and the body was discovered. A post-mortem examination established Ms Brella had been murdered.

Earlier a police spokesman confirmed Ms Brella had previously been the victim of domestic violence and in early September was made the subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) at Northampton magistrates' court.

It was reported that the 28-day DVPO banned the perpetrator of the violence from visiting Ms Brella's workplace.

The person was prevented from molesting her, threatening violence, or intimidating, harassing or pestering her, and also told not to encourage or instruct others to contact her in any way.

The order was served by Northamptonshire Police and implemented by magistrates.

No formal charges have since been recorded against the same person by the court and they were released following the court hearing but ordered to pay the full costs, it has been reported.

Northamptonshire Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as a result of the previous contact between the force and Ms Brella.

Chief Inspector Cash said police had followed "a number of lines of investigation and carried out numerous inquiries".

He added: "Officers and detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit and Northamptonshire Police, working with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police, have been working around the clock to establish the circumstances behind Harshita's death, including the exact location and timeframe in which it took place."

Investigators are carrying out house-to-house inquiries and property searches, as well as examining CCTV and ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) images in an effort to find leads. More than 60 detectives are working on the case.

Chief Inspector Cash urged anyone who thinks they can help bring Ms Brella's killer to justice to get in touch.

He said: "If you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us.

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

Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime unit, said on Sunday that his team and Northamptonshire Police were "working around the clock" to find answers.

DCI Campbell said: "Although we believe Harshita was attacked by someone known to her, we are keeping an open mind and would appeal to anyone who knew her to contact us with any relevant information they may have."

Extra police patrols will be taking place in Corby in the coming days to reassure those in the area, but officers believe there is no wider risk to the public.