Camden New Journal - News: Headless body horror scene

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Camden New Journal - By PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 7 February 2008

Forensic experts examining the crime scene

Headless body horror scene

Murder hunt launched as corpse is found trussed in cage

DETECTIVES were searching last night for the head of a man whose torso was found trussed and hidden behind bins in a West Hampstead backstreet yesterday (Wednesday).
The grisly hunt was launched after a street sweeper found the body taped up in a duvet and crammed into a supermarket cage in Kingsgate Place at 7.10am.
It is unknown how long the body had been there and it was several hours before police were able to confirm even the sex of the corpse.
The name, age, and ethnicity of the victim will only be learned when the body is fully unwrapped for the first time this morning (Thursday), at a St Pancras hospital post mortem. The time and cause of death – which may have happened before decapitation – will also be determined.
“We just don’t know what we’re dealing with,” said one detective at the scene.
Yesterday, forensic officers studied the body where it lay in the side street, which links Quex Road and Kilburn High Road, while a murder squad investigation under Detective Chief Inspector Jessica Wadsworth set up a temporary office in the basement of the Methodist Church, Kingsgate Road.
The Kingsgate estate overlooks the scene of the discovery. Outside its Queensgate block yesterday, resident Ade Abame said: “I walk past there every morning. I walked past this morning. How long was this poor person lying there like that? I have to bring my children home past there this afternoon. It is terrible not knowing who it is.”
Kingsgate Place, with its small ethnic restaurants and studios, is one of the more prosperous of the network of alleys off the Kilburn High Road.
But Kilburn residents have long campaigned for greater security and CCTV coverage to prevent the alleys providing cover for drug use and disorder.
Resident Cliff Aherne said: “Until they deal with these alleys there will be problems. You don’t see people here but you know they are because of what they leave behind, needles and mess, human mess.”
Kilburn’s community police were on standby last night to join the search or provide reassurance patrols, according to Safer Neighbourhoods team sergeant Eddie Oddita.
A Met spokeswoman said last night: “At this time the victim has still not been identified. Of course, missing persons lists will be checked as part of the investigation.
“The decapitated body, believed to be an adult male, was found in a gold coloured cage similar to those used to move stock around in retail outlets and wrapped up in a duvet /blanket-type material behind shops. It is not clear at this stage how long the body may have been in situ.”
Witnesses are asked to call 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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