No remains found in murder probe house search

Police say no remains have been found at a house that was being searched as part of a murder investigation following the disappearance of a man two years ago.

Leicestershire Police launched a murder inquiry on 10 February into missing man Gary Piatek, 60, who was last seen in April 2024, and started extensive searches of a house in Broad Avenue in Evington, Leicester.

Now officers say their work at the house has concluded with no human remains found.

Ibrahim Yosif, 43, of Broad Avenue, and Omed Firuzman, 25, of Ashley Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, both pleaded not guilty to murder at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday and are due to go on trial on 12 October.

Six other people are also facing charges in relation to Piatek's disappearance.

The force said the property had been deemed structurally safe by a specialist engineer and a process had now begun to formally hand the property over to Leicester City Council.

Det Insp Mike Chandler, the senior investigating officer, said: "Though we hoped our enquiries at the property would help us establish what happened to Mr Piatek, we have sadly not located his remains.

"I want to reassure his friends and family that the police investigation continues in the hope of locating him and understanding further what happened.

"Several people have been charged in connection with his death and the case is progressing through the courts.

"I'd like to thank residents of Broad Avenue and the local community for their co-operation and understanding while our investigation was focussed in their area."

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