‘Shocked my niece died in such a horrific way’
John Twomey
THE aunt of a young woman found dismembered in two suitcases has told of her shock at the horrific way her niece died.
It is understood 28-year-old Phoenix Netts was sawn in half and burned before being put inside two suitcases and dumped in a forest.
Ana-Liliana Netts said: “I’m shocked that she has died in such a horrific way.
“She was a lovely, girl.”
She spoke after a woman appeared in court charged with the murder of Phoenix, whose remains were found last week in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
“I hadn’t seen her since she was little,” she added.
“Her father used to tell me proudly how clever she was.
“She used to live in Croydon, south London, and she was from a very nice family. They must be heartbroken.” The 58-year-old added: “I always remember her as a nice little girl.
“I’m so sorry died like this.”
Police launched a murder inquiry after the grim discovery of her niece’s remains on Tuesday last week.
It is not known exactly where and when Phoenix was killed but she is believed to have died in Birmingham, where she had been living in a women’s refuge.
Neighbour Wahidur Rahman, 50, said: “Phoenix was a really nice young girl. She was lovely.
“I thought something might have happened to her because I hadn’t seen her in a while.”
Phoenix was said to have suffered a “troubled youth”, dropped out of university and fallen into drug use.
A former boyfriend described her as “always vulnerable and easy to exploit”.
The ex-partner, known only as Joe, said Phoenix had studied at Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent, between 2009 she sweetnatured and 2011 but did not graduate. Speaking from his home in Canada, Joe said: “She told me and one other friend of hers that she had been raped by a drug dealer.
“Phoenix was kind and quiet, but also vulnerable.
“She seemed damaged – and rightly so – by the trauma she went through.”
He added: “But she still showed compassion and empathy to others.”
Gareeca Conita Gordon, 27, of Birmingham, is accused of murdering Phoenix between April 14 and May 12. She appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody. A provisional trial date has been set for November 10.
Mahesh Sorathiya, 38, of Wolverhampton, who is accused of assisting an offender, was bailed at the same court.
Mr Justice Garnham said: “Sorathiya’s alleged involvement relates to his transporting of the defendant Gordon.
“There is no suggestion that he was involved in the alleged offence of murder itself.”
Phoenix, far left, and police in the forest where her remains were found. Mahesh Sorathiya, left is accused of assisting an offender