A woman who was murdered at her home in Colindale has been named.

Although officers are still waiting for formal identification, they believe the deceased is 55-year-old Rivka Holden of Falcon Way.

Police yesterday charged Nicolae Patraucean, 20, a Romanian national living in Stanmore, with the woman's murder.

He will appear in custody at Hendon Magistrates' Court today.

A police car was flagged down at approximately 12.20pm on Sunday March 16, and alerted to a seriously injured woman suffering stab or slash wounds.

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended the address, where the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination began on Monday March 17 at Finchley mortuary, but officers await the outcome.

The victim's Red Hyundai i20, with the registration RE62 AEA, has been stolen and remains missing. It was last known to have been in the Kingsbury area.

Neighbours said they were shocked and terrified after hearing about the murder in what they described as a safe and quiet area.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8785 8244, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.