Inquest Opened Into Death of Woman Whose Husband Fled After Allegedly Strangling Her

An undated image of murdered 24-year-old Harshita Brella. Northamptonshire Police/PA

An inquest is set to open into the death of a 24-year-old woman who is believed to have been strangled, as police released CCTV images of the prime suspect in her killing.

Stills released on Tuesday show Harshita Brella’s husband Pankaj Lamba in east London after he is thought to have killed her before abandoning her body in a car boot.

Northamptonshire Police detectives believe she was murdered in Corby on the evening of Nov. 10 before her body was driven to Ilford in the car boot the next day.

International Manhunt

An international manhunt was launched after the body was found in the car parked in Brisbane Road in the early hours of last Thursday.

A post-mortem examination carried out at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Friday gave the preliminary cause of death as strangulation, police said.

An inquest is expected to open into her death in Northampton on Wednesday.

Detectives released the CCTV to prompt anyone who may have interacted with the suspected killer between Sunday morning and Nov. 11 evening to contact police.

Speaking from India, Brella’s parents told BBC News they “want justice” for their daughter.

Sonia Dabas, Brella’s sister, said the family became worried by Nov. 13 after her phone was off for two days, and asked people to file a complaint.

A neighbour has told media she heard two blistering rows, involving one where a woman “sounded scared,” in the days leading up to the killing.

Domestic Violence History

A police spokesman confirmed Brella was previously the victim of domestic violence and was made subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order at Northampton Magistrates’ Court in September.

Northamptonshire Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because of previous contact with the victim.

Police have not said to which country they suspect Lamba fled.

Undated handout CCTV photo issued by Northamptonshire Police of a Silver Vauxhall Corsa on Brisbane Road, Ilford, which police believe was driven by Pankaj Lamba, issued on Nov. 19, 2024. Northamptonshire Police/PA

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, from the East Midlands Special Operations major crime unit, said: “We are working closely with policing colleagues and our partners in the CPS, and in order to secure justice for Harshita, there are certain aspects of this investigation we are unable to comment on.

“Our inquiries have established that Pankaj Lamba drove a Silver Vauxhall Corsa from Corby to Ilford sometime on the morning of Monday November 11.

“We suspect Harshita’s body had been placed in the boot of the vehicle by Lamba before leaving Corby.

“Lamba then abandoned the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford and made his getaway.

“Any information, no matter how small, may be relevant to the investigation and help us get justice for Harshita.”