Mystery of woman's body found in suitcase as Met Police refuse to say if is murder probe

MYSTERY surrounds the discovery of a body in a suitcase on Friday after police refused to confirm it was being treated as a murder investigation.

The Met Police yesterday said it was treating the death as unexplained as it tried to confirm the identity of the deceased, whose sex it also would not confirm.

According to residents of the Pay and Sleep homeless hostel where the body was found in Southall, west London, it was that of a woman who had been living there but had not been seen for some time.

The body was found by a painter on Friday after other residents had reported a foul smell in the previous two weeks.

DORM: Inside the hostel from an online advert (Hotels.uk.com)

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 yesterday and requesting CCTV.

A post-mortem examination was due to begin at 4pm today (Saturday) at Fulham Mortuary and take several hours. The results have yet to be released.

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.