Men accused of murdering Celine Dookhran are pictured

Men accused of murdering Celine Dookhran are pictured

The family of Celine Dookhran have paid tribute to their 'amazingly talented and loving daughter' as the men accused of her kidnap, rape and murder appeared in court today.  

The body of Miss Dookhran, 19, who was an Indian Muslim, was discovered last week in a £1.5million property just miles from her home in South West London. 

Mujahid Arshid, 33, and Vincent Tappu, 28, will face trial at the Old Bailey in connection with the murder, rape and kidnap of Miss Dookhran, and the kidnap, rape and attempted murder of a second woman.

Vincent Tappu is said to have helped Mujahid Arshid (right) kidnap the two women on July 19

A statement, issued by the Metropolitan Police on behalf of Ms Dookhran's family, said: 'Celine Dookhran was an amazingly talented and loving daughter who brought happiness, joy and laughter to her family and friends.

'We are proud of Celine for everything she had achieved and were looking forward to seeing a loving, caring and innocent young girl fulfil her potential in life and carry on making us proud.'

The family, who thanked those who have offered support and asked for their privacy to be respected, added: 'We have sincere belief and full confidence that the perpetrators will face the full force of the law.

'We would like to reiterate our thanks to all that have offered their support and ask everyone to pray for both vi ctims and their immediate families, and that the vile individuals involved face the full weight of justice upon them.'

Arshid, 33, allegedly slit her throat after she had been tasered, bound and gagged and taken to the empty house in Kingston-on-Thames.

Arshid, also known as Hussain, is also accused of raping a second woman, 21, and slashing her throat, but she survived and managed to flee the property.

Tappu, 28, is said to have helped Arshid kidnap the two women on Wednesday July 19. 

Celine Dookhran, 19, was found dead inside a £1.5million home in south west London, after she was kidnapped, raped and murdered

The suspects are accused of grabbing Miss Dookhran as she showered and binding her up with duct tape and rope.

Miss Dookhran was taken with the second woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to a six-bedroom house five miles away where both were raped, the court heard. 

The court was told Miss Dookhran had been in a relationship with an Arab Muslim and her family members did not approve because they were Indian Muslims.

The survivor claimed she heard her friend scream as she was dragged from the shower in a house near Wimbledon by the men wearing balaclavas and stunned with a Taser before she herself was taken.

The victims had socks shoved into th eir mouths before being rolled up into dust sheets and thrown into a vehicle, it is claimed.

They were driven five miles to a house under renovation before Miss Dookhran was raped and murdered â€" but the second woman fled.

Binita Roscoe, prosecuting, said the teenager died after her throat was slit. The second woman was stabbed a number of times but managed to flee and alerted police officers from hospital.  

The surviving victim remains in a serious condition.

A post-mortem examination carried out on Miss Dookhran last Friday gave cause of death as an incised wound to the neck.

Miss Dookhran, left and right, had been in a relationship with an Arab Muslim and her family members did not approve because they were Indian Muslims

Miss Dookhran was the eldest of three children and born in Wandsworth in 1996.

Her passion was make-up and her Twitter account was filled with advice on using cosmetics - she also did the make-up for an A-Level film made at sixth form.

On the eve of her murder she also 'liked' a joke about finishing work.

She also posted messages when she passed her driving test in 2015 and also tweeted about her faith.

During Ramadan she wrote: 'Please tell me why I'm casually sitting in Costa during my lunch break whilst fasting.' 

Miss Dookhran's family are being supported by a family liaison officer. 

Arshid, from Mitcham and Tappu, from Acton, are due to appear at the Old Bailey on October 11.

A provisional trial date has been set for January 17 next year. 

They are yet to enter pleas.  

A 29-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender in relation to this case was released under investigation on Thursday July 20.

STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY OF MISS DOOKHRAN 

'Celine Dookhran was an amazingly talented and loving daughter who brought happiness, joy and laughter to her family and friends.

'We are proud of Celine for everything she had achieved and were looking forward to seeing a loving, caring and innocent young girl fulfil her potential in life and carry on making us proud.

'We thank all those who have offered their support, however we would like to ask the media, press and others to respect the privacy of both victims and their immediate families, so that they can attempt to deal with the shock, trauma and grief in private.

'We have sincere belief and full confidence that the perpetrators will face the full force of the law.

'We would like to reiterate our thanks to all that have offered their support and ask everyone to pray for both victims and their immediate families, and that the vile individuals involved face the full weight of justice upon them.' 

 

 

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