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Torch-lit vigil held for murder victim Harshita

Family handout A woman in a yellow and white trimmed traditional Indian suit holds her phone in her left hand standing by a wooden doorway. She has a red line between the parting of her hair, which is a Indian custom followed by married Hindu women.Family handout
Harshita Brella is believed to have been killed by her husband, who has yet to be found

A torch-lit walk and vigil has been held to commemorate a 24-year-old woman who police believe was murdered by her husband.

Harshita Brella is believed to have been killed by her husband in Corby, Northamptonshire, before her body was found dumped in a car in east London.

A large crowd turned out for the walk from Corby Boating Lake to Corby Cube on Friday night.

"Serious crime like this in Corby is very, very rare, so this has hit us hard," said Lou Cory, who organised the vigil.

"We've always been a community with a spirit.

"We definitely want this to send a message to [Harshita's family] to say that we are also grieving for her - and for their loss - and we feel for them at this time, when they are so far away."

Sam Read/BBC Lou Cory is standing on a square in Corby in the early evening. She has fair hair and is wearing glasses, a red coat and a black scarf. Shops are lit up in the backgroundSam Read/BBC
Lou Cory organised the vigil to remember Harshita Brella

A local arts group read a poem dedicated to Ms Brella and a representative from a Northampton domestic abuse service spoke to the crowd.

Sam Read/BBC Several people gathered at the vigil. Everyone is wearing coats and there are some people wearing hi-vis jackets. Police wearing uniform are also there.Sam Read/BBC
The vigil took place next to the Corby Cube in Northampton

Surinder Bhoday, 74, has lived in Corby for 51 years.

"[Harshita] was a resident here and it is only a small town, so we would like to pay our respects to her," he explained.

"It is so sad that is it happening on the doorstep."

Sam Read/BBC Surinder Bhoday is wearing a turban and glasses. He has a white beard. He is wearing a coat and shirt. It is nighttime.Sam Read/BBC
Surinder Bhoday was one of the crowd at the torch-lit walk and vigil

Earlier on Friday, Northamptonshire Police announced that Ms Brella's body would be repatriated to India.

The suspect Pankaj Lamba, 23, is believed to have fled the country.

He was already arrested on 3 September following a report of domestic abuse from Ms Brella, and she was made the subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order.

Northamptonshire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because of its previous contact with her.

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