Man charged after woman’s head found in Ikea bag

A MAN has been charged over the discovery of a human head and bones in a shopping bag on a footpath.

The 54-year-old was arrested after the remains were found in a blue Ikea bag in Newhaven, Edinburgh on December 31.

He appeared at the city’s Sheriff Court yesterday.

The badly decomposed head is from an adult woman and bones found alongside the skull appear to belong to the same person.

Detectives with Lothian and Borders Police in Scotland say she could have died between a few months and several years ago. A police statement said: “Tests are continuing to establish the exact circumstances of her death.”

Forensic experts have examined the remains to establish the woman’s identity, ethnicity and cause of death.

Other bags found contained bones and “various materials” but police would not reveal what they were. A detailed search of the area where the bag was dumped is being carried out.

Britain’s national database for missing persons is being cross-referenced to see if the remains match anyone declared missing.

It is not known when the bag was dumped but police believe it will have been relatively recently.