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The body of a teenager who had been missing since December last year was found in a loft in Enfield having suffered blunt force trauma and stab injuries.

Abdi Ali, 18, was last seen by his family on 11 December 2017, at a family wedding. He was reported missing on December 31.

It was heard in court today that Ali was killed on December 21, lying undiscovered in the flat for eight months. The body is understood to be badly decomposed.

In January a public appeal was made by the family to try and find the teenager.

His sister said his mum and dad were "really worried" about his disappearance and begged for information as to his whereabouts.

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Acting on a tip off Metropolitan Police officers searched a house in Hartmoor Mews, Enfield, north London on Monday and found the body of Abdi Ali in the loft.

The two people who lived there, Gary Hopkins, 36, and Stacey Docharty, 28, were both arrested on suspicion of murder.

A post-mortem today gave cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head and stab wounds to the chest.

Marie Mauceri, 59, told the Evening Standard: “It’s been like something out of CSI [Crime Scene Investigation]. There have been loads of officers there. We are in total shock.”

Linda Phi, 48, said: "We are all devastated. To have a crime tent outside is just so strange. We are struggling to understand how this could happen here.”

Hopkins and Docharty have both been charged with murder, perverting the course of justice and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body.

The two charged and the alleged victim were said to have been known to each other.

They appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court yesterday and were remanded in custody ahead of further court appearances.

Docharty appeared in the dock at the Old Bailey on Friday and seemed distressed as she confirmed her details.

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Hopkins will appear at the same court by video link on Monday.

Judge Anne Molyneux said the pair, both of Hartmoor Mews, face a two to three-week trial on February 25 and will appear at the same court for a plea hearing on November 23.

They are both in custody.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that Mr Ali's next of kin have been informed.

Following his disappearance several follow up appeal were made by the Metropolitan Police throughout February with no success.

When he was missing Mr Ali was described as having links to Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, South Wales and Lincolnshire.