Body found in woodland on edge of Coventry

A body has been found in a remote piece of woodland on the edge of Coventry.



Police were called to Wainbody Wood, near Stoneleigh Road, Gibbet Hill.

The Telegraph understands that the body has been there for some time.

People living near the woods suggested that the remains were discovered by a dog walker on Sunday.

An area on the east side of the woodland was cordoned off on Monday as forensic experts scoured the land following the discovery.

A blue tent was erected in the centre of the cordon and Police Community Support Officers were nearby.

Forensics officers were also painstakingly photographing the scene.



Police and undertakers were seen removing two large bags from the area.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Police sealed off a small area of woodland following a call at 12.58pm on Sunday to reports of remains found in Wainbody Wood.

“The remains are being examined at this stage.”

One member of the public claimed the same area had been searched by police before but nothing had been discovered.

The cordon remains in place today as police continue to search the area.

Police attempts to ID body found in Coventry wood continue

POLICE are continuing to work to establish the identity of a body that was discovered in a remote piece of Coventry woodland over the weekend.

An area of Wainbody Woods, off Stoneleigh Road, Gibbet Hill, was cordoned off on Sunday after a dog walker found human remains.

They have now been removed from the area for examination by forensic experts and a pathologist and the cordon remains on the site so further searches can be carried out.

Det Insp Stuart Bell from West Midlands Force CID said: “The remains have been confirmed as human and the death is being treated as unexplained at this stage.

“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the identity of the deceased. “

Remains found in Coventry woods revealed as missing man

Human remains found in woodland in Coventry have been identified as a man who went missing in 2009.

Hiralal Chuahan, 58, was reported missing from his home in Bowness Close in Keresley, Coventry, in May 2009.

Searches were conducted in Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester where Mr Chuahan was believed to have had links.

His remains were found by a dog walker in Wainbody Woods, off Stoneleigh Road, on 26 February. Police are currently treating his death as unexplained.

Murder of Coventry man Hiralal Chauhan: Two arrested

Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a missing Coventry man.

The body of Hiralal Chauhan, reported missing three years ago, was discovered in Wainbody Wood on 26 February.

Mr Chauhan, who was 58 at the time of his disappearance, had to be identified by DNA testing, West Midlands Police said.

A 43-year-old man and a woman, 34, were arrested in the Lower Coundon area and are being questioned by officers.

Det Insp Stuart Bell, who is leading the investigation for West Midlands Police, said: "I am still convinced that there are witnesses who have not yet contacted the police who may have vital information concerning Hiralal Chauhan being in those woods in the spring of 2009.

"I am keen to hear from anyone who was a frequent visitor to Wainbody Wood both during and before 2009 who may hold what they think is insignificant information but may, in reality, be extremely beneficial to this murder enquiry."

Murder charge after Hiralal Chauhan's remains found in wood

A 43-year old man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a body in woods in Coventry.

The body of Hiralal Chauhan, reported missing three years ago, was discovered in Wainbody Wood on 26 February.

West Midlands Police arrested a man and 34-year-old woman in the Lower Coundon area earlier this week. The woman has been released without charge.

The man is due to appear at Coventry Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, police said.

Mr Chauhan, who was 58 at the time of his disappearance, was reported missing from his home address in Bowness Close, Radford, three years ago.

Police said they had had to use DNA testing to establish the identity of the remains.

Murder suspect denies killing Keresley man Hiralal Chauhan



A 43-YEAR-OLD man has denied murdering Hiralal Chauhan, whose body was found in Coventry woodland three years after he disappeared.

David Novakovic King, of Middleborough Road, Radford, Coventry entered a formal not guilty plea to a charge of murder during a brief hearing at the crown court in Leamington.

He is accused of murdering 58-year-old Mr Chauhan some time between May 21 and June 4 in 2009.

Mr Chauhan had gone missing from his home in Bowness Close, Keresley and police appeals at the time for help to trace him were to no avail.

Then in February this year someone walking their dog came across the unidentifiable remains of a body in Wainbody Wood, Gibbet Hill, and alerted the police.

After extensive DNA testing Mr Chauhan was eventually identified – and in May King was arrested.

Judge Richard Griffiths-Jones remanded King in custody and adjourned the case until the next hearing in November.

King’s trial is expected to last six weeks as a number of expert witnesses are likely to be required.

The trial is anticipated to take place between April and June next year.

David King guilty of Hiralal Chauhan woodland murder

A man has been found guilty of murdering his partner's father and burying his body in woodland.

David Novakovic King, 44, from Middleborough Road, Radford in Coventry killed 57-year-old Hiralal Chauhan, after stealing £22,000 from him.

Mr Chauhan was reported missing in 2009. His remains were discovered in Wainbody Wood in Coventry by a man walking his dog three years later.

King, who had denied murder, will be sentenced in Leamington on Friday.

Mr Chauhan, whose daughter was Kings' partner, was reported missing from his home in Bowness Close, Radford by a neighbour in June 2009.

His remains were discovered on 26 February 2012.

West Midlands Police said he had been paid £22,000 from his mother's will shortly before he went missing.

'Deeply saddened'

Hiralal, who had learning difficulties, had given King possession of his bank card and control of the money, police said.

An investigation found that King had withdrawn all the money from the account and spent it on expensive cruises and antiques.

Police said although a pathologist was unable to find how Mr Chauhan was killed, there was evidence he may have been decapitated before being buried in the woods.

Det Insp Stuart Bell said: "King had seized an opportunity to steal a large amount of money from a vulnerable man who I believe had little understanding of the value of money."

Hiralal's brother, Mahesh Chauhan, said he was "happy" with the verdict.

He said: "We are deeply saddened that Hiralal's life was bought to a sudden end and that someone so close to Hiralal took advantage of his vulnerability for financial gain.

"This will now bring closure to the family, with the hope we can lay our brother to rest."

David King jailed for life for Hiralal Chauhan murder

A man who murdered his partner's father and buried his body in woodland has been jailed for life.

David Novakovic King, 44, from Middleborough Road, Radford in Coventry killed 57-year-old Hiralal Chauhan, after stealing £22,000 from him.

After being reported missing in 2009, Mr Chauhan's remains were discovered in Wainbody Wood in Coventry in 2012.

King, who had denied murder, was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years in prison at Leamington Justice Centre.

Det Insp Stuart Bell said he was pleased with the sentence given to King and that "justice had been done" for Mr Chauhan and his family.