Shropshire Star

One of two women found dead in freezer identified as missing mother

Mihrican Mustafa, 38, who was also known as Mary Jane and MJ, disappeared last May.

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Mihrican Mustafa

Scotland Yard has referred itself to the police watchdog after detectives identified one of two women whose bodies were found in a chest freezer as a missing mother-of-three.

Mihrican Mustafa, 38, who was also known as Mary Jane and MJ, disappeared last May.

The Metropolitan Police said on Friday evening she was one of two women discovered by police in a freezer in a ground floor flat in Vandome Close, Canning Town, east London, a week ago.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: “We are now confident that one of the females found is MJ. As you can imagine, this is a devastating time for her family and we would ask for their privacy to be respected.

“MJ was reported missing in May 2018. As yet we don’t know when she died, a post-mortem examination is ongoing.”

Scotland Yard said the force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because the victim was a missing person.

Before Ms Mustafa was officially identified, her older sister Mel Mustafa, 47, said: “I wish the police would have listened to us earlier. They failed and I’m not scared to admit it anymore.”

Zahid Younis, 34, who lived in the flat, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with two counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body on or before April 27.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court on May 29.

A murder probe continues and detectives are working to identify the second woman.

Mr Harding added: “I would appeal for anyone who knew MJ and may have information about what happened to her, and in particular her association with the address where she was found, to come forward.

“Did you see her just before or maybe even after she was reported missing? What was she doing? Who was she with?”

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