Deptford body was that of Hungarian fugitive, police reveal -

A MURDER hunt has been launched after an intensive four-year investigation into the discovery of human remains on the shore of the Thames at Deptford.

At a press conference today, Metropolitan Police detec-tives announced that the skinned head and 10 other body parts found on December 14, 1998, belonged to 34-year-old Hungarian Csaba Miczi.

The married father-of-one had come to England as a fu-gitive after being sentenced to five years in jail for fraud.

But the escape was cut short by his brutal murder.

Since the discovery of his remains near St George's Steps, detectives have used extensive forensic techniques and called on Interpol to help them identify the body parts.

DCI Huw Jenkins explained that the inquiry would initially focus on the people who knew Mr Miczi during his stay in England.

He said: "Mr Miczi was to present himself at prison in November 1998. However, he came to the UK, arriving on 19 November and staying in the London area. Over the next few weeks, he was in regular contact with his family and associating with a family friend, a woman called Zsuzsanna Palfi.

"We need to hear from anyone who knew Mr Miczi or has any information about where he went, who he asso-ciated with or what he was doing in those four weeks before his body was found on the banks of the River Thames.

"We are also particularly keen to trace Zsuzsanna Palfi who would now be 26 years old. She may have vital in-formation about the deceased man's last days."

A post mortem confirmed Mr Miczi died from a blow to the head combined with strangulation.

Following the shocking discovery the Met set up Opera-tion Malmesbury, based at the incident room in Shooter's Hill, Woolwich.

Scientists told police they were looking for the identity of a man of eastern European or Mediterranean origin, between 25-45 years old, of large build, with black hair, dark brown eyes and 'noticeably nice looking teeth.'

Further forensic examination of his teeth gave an indi-cation that he may have spent his childhood years liv-ing over 2,000 ft above sea level.

Enquiries were conducted throughout western and eastern Europe.

Appeal posters were circulated using a clay image, later, posters showing four variations from the clay recon-struction of how he might have looked were circulated.

But Csaba Miczi was eventually identified from his fin-gerprints by Hungarian Police.

Met officers have travelled to eastern Europe to speak to his family and friends.

DCI Jenkins said: "After four years, the family can now begin the process of grieving. Like everyone who has lost a loved one, they need to know what happened.

"Our appeal today is the first step in establishing how Mr Miczi met his death and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

"Now the murder hunt can begin."

Anyone who has any information should contact the in-cident room on 020 8217 6505, or Crimestoppers anony-mously on 0800 555 111.