Rahmona Ahmedin
(Islington Gazette) LONDON, U.K. — A YOUNG woman whose body was found dumped in a burning suitcase in Islington (a suburb of London) had not been seen for weeks by her friends and neighbours.
This week they spoke of their shock at the 23-year-old’s death, with one friend – who had been wondering why she had not been in contact – collapsing in tears when told what had happened.
Rahmona Ahmedin is thought to have been stabbed to death at her fourth-floor apartment in Peabody Square off Essex Road, Islington, between June 6 and June 18.
After receiving a fatal knife wound to her chest, she was bundled into a suitcase – which was then set alight in a lay-by about 50 miles away on the A1301 in Cambridgeshire.
Her body was discovered at about 3.30am last Wednesday after a lorry driver noticed the flames. She had been reported missing on June 14.
A man has been charged with her murder after walking into a Fulham police station on Friday.
Rahmona was born in Ethiopia but later fled with her family to Sweden. She came to the UK about five years ago and is thought to have lived in a hostel before moving to Peabody Square about a year ago. Although Rahmona’s family is thought to still be in Sweden, her mother and a younger brother were seen visiting her around Christmas.
One friend, who did not know about Rahmona’s death until contacted by the Gazette, was devastated.
The woman, who does not want to be named, said: “She was a quiet, nice girl – really nice. The last time we spent time together was around May 20. It was my friend’s birthday and she was having her nails done. Then I didn’t see her for a while.
“She said she had been away with a friend and would give me a call. But she never did. Her mum loved her so much. She always wanted her to go back to university to study but she never went.”
A neighbour in Peabody Square said: “I think the last time I saw her was about a month ago but I saw her rarely anyway. In the year she has lived here, I don’t think I have seen her more than 20 times. It’s more than just sad, it’s sickening. Everyone has been talking about this. We just want to know what happened.”
Acting Detective Sergeant Sion Hughes said: “We are interested in talking to anyone who knows her, anyone who saw anything suspicious around her home in the first week of June or around the time her body was discovered.”
Anyone with information should call police on 020 8345 1550 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.