The body of a murdered and raped make-up artist was found ‘stuffed inside’ a freezer by stunned police officers after she was attacked by ‘sex obsessed’ killer.
Mujahid Arshid, 33, is alleged to have bound, gagged and kidnapped niece Celine Dookhran, 20, and another 21-year-old woman, before he had sex with them both women in a £1.5million house he was renovating in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.
Arshid intended to kill his victims and slash their throats, but the elder woman survived by persuading Arshid they could have an affair, the Old Bailey heard.
The body of make-up artist Celine Dookhran was discovered in a £1.5million property just miles from her home in South West London
Mujahid Arshid, 33, (left) is charged with the kidnap and murder of his niece Celine Dookhran, 20, while accomplice Vincent Tappu, 28, (right) is charged with kidnap
Arshid’s brother took her to hospital and police burst into the property to break open the freezer with a crowbar and find the body of Celine Dookhran.
‘Inside was a dust sheet,’ said prosecutor Crispin Aylett.
‘As one of the officers lifted the dust sheet the officers could see several toes poking out from underneath.
Celine, who was just 5ft 3ins tall was ‘lying face down and at an awkward angle in the freezer consistent with her having been stuffed inside.
‘She was wearing a dark coloured short sleeved top and a pair of trousers. Her arms were covered in blood.
‘Her body was extremely cold. The woman was obviously dead and had been for some time.’
There was still silver tape around her mouth and a stripy sock and had been forced between her teeth.
Mujahid Arshid, 33, was said to have bound and gagged kidnapped two victims and had sex with them both in a £1.5 million house he was working on. Pictured, police at the scene
Arshid allegedly drove the women to the house (pictured), and tied them to the pipes in the utility room while he was armed with a lock knife, before raping them in turn
She had suffered a 13cm wound her to her throat and defensive injuries to her wrists and hands.
Arshid had fled to the Holiday Inn in Folkestone, Kent, and was arrested there after police tracked his phone and picked him up on CCTV footage.
When he was arrested and cautioned Arshid asked: ‘Am I going to be charged?’
In his suitcase was the keys to the padlock which had been wrenched off the chest freezer.
Left, Celine Dookhran and right, her family arrive at the Old Bailey on Monday afternoon
Arshid (right) and Tappu (left) are depicted here in a court sketch at from the Old Bailey today
Arshid told police officers one key he had was for his blue Nissan Navarra the pick-up truck which he had used to take them victims to the house in Coombe Lane West, Kingston-on-Thames where the body was found.
He said: ‘Can you make sure that my wife gets the key back as its on finance and I want her to sell it and get my money back.’
The builder made no comment when he was interviewed.
He allegedly got his employee Vincent Tappu, 28, to help him abduct the women.
Arshid had become fixated with both women and had sexually abused the surviving victim, it is claimed.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett, QC, warned the jury that they would have to prepare themselves to deal with the terrible facts of the case surrounding Ms Dookhran’s murder
They were gagged with tape and bound at the wrist and ankle at his home in Mitcham before being taken to the house in Kingston wrapped in the builder’s dust sheets.
The surviving victim persuaded Arshid they could still be together and he took her to his home in Homefield Gardens, Mitcham after he had raped her and slashed her throat.
Arshid’s brother went to the house after the killer contacted and he took the woman to hospital.
Arshid, of Homefield Gardens, Mitcham, denies murder, attempted murder, two counts of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration.
Tappu, of Spencer Road, Acton, denies kidnap, false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm with intent.
The trial continues.
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