Remains of Highgate woman Norma Girolami found in Barnet

The remains have been formally identified as being those of Norma Girolami, who lived in Highgate, and her family has been notified by detectives.

A search was conducted at a churchyard in Friern Barnet Lane, where the remains were found.

Norma was last seen in mid-August 2021 and a murder investigation was launched in October that year.

In September this year, police offered a £20,000 reward for anyone who could provide information that would help find the remains of the missing 70-year-old woman.

Police have been investigating since last year (Image: PA)

The Met said that Norma regularly travelled to Brent Cross to do her shopping using public transport and she was a member at Archway Leisure Centre.

She liked to visit Leigh-on-Sea and made a trip there on August 19, 2021. She took the train from Barking and returned to London later that day.

All communication from Norma stopped that evening.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn said: "Despite accepting that Norma was no longer alive, I know that her family are deeply affected by the news that her remains have been found. Our thoughts are very much with them.

“My team has spent more than a year searching for Norma and there is a sense of relief that we have found her remains, which will undergo forensic examination in due course.

“Despite this discovery, I would still be very keen to hear from anyone who knew Norma, either in London or at Leigh on Sea, who can provide information on anything that was happening in her life in August last year. I am also appealing for anyone who saw any activity around the churchyard in Friern Barnet Lane, N20, between August and October last year.”

Serkan Kaygusuz, 41, of Sparsholt Road, Islington, has denied murdering Norma and fraud charges. He is due to appear in the Old Bailey on February 6.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC.