Martine Vik Magnussen: Father of murdered student's 'intolerable pain' as police hunt suspect nine years on

Martine Vik Magnussen murder: Family's agony as police hunt suspect nine years on
Metropolitan Police
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The father of a murdered student has spoken of the family’s “intolerable pain” nine years after his daughter's body was found buried in a west London basement.

Farouk Abdulhak, the prime suspect in the murder investigation, left the country within hours of 23-year-old Martine Vik Magnussen’s disappearance.

Despite Metropolitan Police detectives’ efforts, nine years later he continues to refuse to return to the UK from Yemen where he went in March 2008.

Miss Magnussen’s father Petter today spoke of the torment Mr Abdulhak is causing the family while he remains abroad.

In statement, he said: “We never imagined nine years ago that we would be in this position today.

“We had hoped that Farouk Abdulhak would by now have had the courage to return to the UK.

“Sadly that is not the case, he remains at large, hiding from justice and putting myself and my family through intolerable pain.

"Martine was a beautiful daughter and our search for justice will never cease."

A post-mortem examination gave the Norwegian student’s cause of death as compression to the neck and found that she had also been raped, police have said.

On the evening of March 13, 2008 the 23-year-old, who lived in Westminster with friends, went out with her flatmates and other students from Regent’s Business School.

She was last seen by her friends at Maddox nightclub on Mill Street in Mayfair between 2am and 3am the following morning.

It is believed by officers that she left with fellow student Mr Abdulhak.

After she was reported missing one day later, officers began making inquiries to trace her.

They visited a residential address on Great Portland Street where they discovered her body in the basement of a flat.

Attempts had been made to conceal her beneath rubble.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Partridge said: "Martine’s family has spent the last nine years without her in their lives.

“To have your daughter taken from you in such a horrific way, especially when so far from home, and still be without answers is truly heart-breaking.

"One man can help provide those answers. Farouk Abdulhak remains wanted for Martine’s murder.

“I would like to take this opportunity to urge him to return to the UK so that this matter may be resolved through the UK courts."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Incident Room on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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