Walker finds mummified head in bag on footpath

Published on Wednesday 31 December 2008 21:14

A PARTIALLY mummified human head has been found in a bag on a footpath.

Police have launched an investigation after the grisly discovery yesterday by a woman walking along the path.

The head, thought to have been removed from the body of someone who died several years ago, was discovered at about 10:30am and the footpath was quickly cordoned off by police.

Officers were yesterday carrying out forensic examinations at the scene in Edinburgh, while curious residents gathered to try to find out what had happened.

The footpath, that runs alongside Hawthornvale in Leith, is surrounded by undergrowth and is generally quiet, but attracts the occasional dog-walker and cyclist.

A police source said the head did not seem to be an ancient relic, but had been preserved in some way.

He added that it was not yet clear whether the head came from the victim of a crime or another source.

A police spokesman said: "Obviously we are at the very early stages of this investigation, and at the moment we are trying to establish the identity of the deceased.

"At this stage it would appear that the remains are a number of years old, although it can't be said for certain how old they are until the necessary tests are carried out.

"At this stage, cause of death is unknown, and we will continue our enquiries in order to establish how the remains have come to be on the footpath."

It has not been revealed whether the head belonged to an adult or a child, or a male or female.

Melissa Tomlinson, 29, of Hawthornvale, said: "It's not something you expect to hear about in this day and age. "It seems quite macabre and ghoulish.

"I wonder whether it has always been there and has just surfaced, or whether it has just been put there."

Her brother Gareth, 27, said the footpath was known to be quiet.

"These paths must look quite alluring to people who do these kind of horrendous things," he said.

Fraser Milligan, 70, from Leith, said: "I was walking along there yesterday and didn't see anything. It's shocking that would happen here. It isn't half spooky."

Mohammed Munir, who owns a shop on nearby Newhaven Road, said that he thought it was like a "nightmare" and his son Rashad said he saw large numbers of police at the scene. "It's quite scary really," he said.

Police officers were posted at each entrance to the footpath yesterday and were sending back cyclists and walkers, as rumours spread about the grisly discovery.

Children tried to sneak down to the scene, after spotting a forensic team at work close to an area of bushes.

One woman said: "It's really scary and horrible to think about because there are children hanging around here all the time."

Anyone with information about the remains should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.