A 36-year-old man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a body found partially inside a wheelie bin in Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed.
Mohamed Abotaka, of Grand Parade, Plymouth, was taken into custody by investigators late last week. He has since been formally charged with the murder of 52-year-old Ali Barzai. The suspect is expected to make his first appearance at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday to face the charge.
The grim discovery was made in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Emergency services were alerted to a service lane running behind the residential properties of Grand Parade at approximately 06:40 BST. Upon arrival, officers cordoned off the area after confirming the presence of a body partially contained within a wheelie bin.
The residential area, which overlooks Plymouth Sound, remained under strict police guard for several days as forensic teams conducted a meticulous sweep of the scene. Officers in white protective suits were observed examining the alleyway and collecting evidence from the surroundings while a large police cordon blocked public access to the lane.
Devon and Cornwall Police have expressed their condolences to the family of Mr. Barzai, while emphasizing that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death remains active. Detective Inspector Chris Lithgow, who is leading the inquiry, has called for calm within the local community, urging residents to refrain from spreading unverified information on social media.
“This is a deeply distressing incident, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Barzai at this difficult time,” DI Lithgow said in a statement. “We are aware that the nature of this discovery has caused significant shock and concern among the residents of Plymouth. I would like to urge the public to avoid speculation while the legal process is underway.”
Police have confirmed that there will be a heightened presence of officers in the Grand Parade area throughout the coming days to provide reassurance to the public and to continue gathering information. Residents have been encouraged to approach these officers if they have any information that could assist the ongoing investigation.
As the case moves into the judicial phase, authorities have stated that they are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with the death. Officials have declined to comment on the relationship between the accused and the victim at this stage, citing the ongoing court proceedings. The Plymouth community now waits for further details to emerge as the case is heard before the magistrate on Monday morning.
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