Radahakrishna Chepooru, also known as Chepooru Radhakrishna.

LONDON, Dec. 22, 2004
NRIpress

NRI whose body was stabbed and found burning in a ditch in Aldenham, near Watford, almost three months ago has been confirmed as Radahakrishna Chepooru, also known as Chepooru Radhakrishna.

Extensive missing person enquiries across the country led Hertfordshire detectives to Chepooru, a missing person from Northamptonshire, and a DNA sample confirmed a match.

Detective Superintendent Adrian Tapp, who is leading the enquiry, said: "This is a huge break-through in the investigation, however there is still lots of work to be done to find the person or people responsible for Radahakrisha's murder. Who wanted him dead and why? And where was he murdered? We have a large team of officers working meticulously on the case to establish the motive for his murder, identify who is responsible and establish the scene of the murder."

He said: "We have been liasing closely with Northamptonshire Police and the Metropolitan Police as well as other forces to gain as much intelligence as possible and build up a good picture of events leading up to his murder."

"Clearly this is a very complex investigation and I would like to personally appeal to anyone who may be able to tell us about Radahakrisha. Do you know where he was prior to Wednesday September 29? Where was he living - did he live in Northamptonshire, Southall or Hounslow - did you rent a room to him? Who were his friends - did you know him? Was he working - did you employ him?

"Chepooru's family, who live in Hyderabad, India, are struggling to come to terms with what has happened to their son and we owe it to them to find the people who brutally murdered him. Perhaps you can tell us who may be responsible or perhaps you saw someone buying a small quantity of petrol? Please get in touch with us if you have any information about his life, the events prior to his murder or the murder itself - any information, however seemingly insignificant, may prove vital to our investigation."

He added: "We will leave no stone unturned in trying to catch the person or people responsible for this savage murder," said Detective Superintendent Adrian Tapp.

Chepooru was aged 27 when he was stabbed to death, he would now be 28. He is from a small village near Hyderabad in central India and he has a mother, father, brother and sister there. He came to England in January 2002 to work and study and was intending to go back to India imminently.

His body was discovered by a police office on routine patrol in Hilfield Lane just after 2am on Wednesday September 29.

Anyone with any information, however seemingly insignificant, is asked to contact the incident room on 0800 358 8868* or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For further information, please contact Ailsa Roe, Press & PR Officer, in Corporate Communication on 01707 354039.