Detective appeals for suspect in murder investigation to return to the UK

Seventeen years after the death of Martine Vik Magnussen, her father has made a plea directly to the man suspected of raping and murdering her.

The body of Martine Vik Magnussen, a 23-year-old Norwegian student was found inside the basement of a property on Great Portland Street on 16 March 2008, after friends had reported her missing.

A post-mortem examination determined she had died from compression to her neck. Enquiries also indicated that Martine had been raped around the time of her death.

CCTV work identified Farouk Abdulhak as the main suspect. He had been at Maddox nightclub with Martine on 14 March and fled the UK within hours of her death, travelling to Egypt and then onto Yemen.

Throughout the last 17 years, specialist Met Police officers have been committed to securing justice for Martine. Her family continue to support the investigation.

Martine’s father Odd Petter Magnussen said: “On March 8, International Women’s Day, I was once again painfully reminded that my daughter, Martine Vik Magnussen was brutally raped and murdered in London in 2008.

“For 17 years, justice has been denied as Farouk Abdulhak remains a free man in Yemen.

“Violence against women and girls is a crisis that affects families worldwide and Martine’s case is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied.

“Martine’s voice was silenced, but we must not be silent for her.”

Martine’s family have continued to speak out against violence against women and girls, creating a park in her memory in Myanmar. This provides a safe space and hosts an annual conference for women to advocate for their rights.

Detective Inspector Jim Barry, leading the investigation from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said:

“Despite Abdulhak’s refusal to come to the UK, we are as committed today as we were in 2008 to get justice for Martine.”

“We’re releasing a more up to date image of Farouk Abdulhak and hope that someone can encourage him to do the right thing and hand himself into UK police.

“My message is directly to Farouk Abdulhak.

“You have been running and hiding for 17 years. You participated in a BBC documentary, providing your explanation as to what happened. It is time to grow up and face your responsibilities to Martine and her family.

“Come to the UK now and explain all to a court and jury. Our pursuit of you will not stop.”

The Met is absolutely committed to protecting women and girls and our improvements in the handling of public protection and tackling Violence Against Women and Girls contributed to us being moved out of special measures by the His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services last month.

564 officers and staff have been drafted into public protection roles across the force, aimed at enhancing our domestic abuse, rape and sexual offence investigation teams and in the past year, the Met has charged 450 more people with rapes or sexual offences.