EXCLUSIVE: Still no murder probe as post mortem on the body in the suitcase proves inconclusive

THE death of a woman whose body was found in a suitcase in a homeless hostel is still being treated as "unexplained" after a post mortem examination proved inconclusive. It means the Met Police has yet to announce it as a murder investigation as it awaits the results of further tests on the corpse. A Met Police spokesman said: "A post-mortem examination held on December 19 was inconclusive. We await the results of further tests." The body was found on Friday by a painter and decorator at the Pay and Sleep homeless hostel in Southall, west London. The Met has yet to release the identity of the deceased or even the gender. But, according to other residents of the hostel, the body was that of a woman who had been living there but had not been seen for some time.

Residents had reported a foul smell in the previous two weeks. A hostel resident, who gave her name only as Lisa, said a man who had been in the same room had also not been seen since and people had been told by others the dead woman had left for Victoria coach station. She said: "She lived on the floor up at the top. We were told by one of the other guys that she'd gone to Victoria coach station. "No one could get hold of her but now we know why. "She had someone living in the room with her. We don't know where he is. "She was a lovely girl, she kept herself to herself." Another resident, who only gave his name as Martin, said the woman had been a "very good person". He said: "I know it was found in a suitcase, the body. She was my good friend." He said he had known the woman for "about five years" when he lived in Acton. He added: "We had similar friends. Nice girl, very nice and friendly."

Police forensic teams were seen scouring the property on Friday and Saturday and requesting CCTV. A Met Police spokesman said: "Officers continue to investigate an unexplained death in Southall. "Police were called at 2.53pm on Friday, December 18, to an address in The Crescent, Southall after a person was found deceased.

"The deceased was found inside a suitcase at the address. "The death is currently being treated as unexplained.

"Enquiries to identify the deceased are ongoing."