Posing with rifle, ammo and shotgun... husband of severed-hand woman

Laden with guns and ammunition, this is the estranged husband of the woman who was found dying in the street with her hand hacked off.

Harpreet Aulakh posed with a rifle, a shotgun, a handgun and draped cartridge belts over his shoulders, during a hunting trip with friends in India. The picture was posted on his Facebook page.

Last night he was among six men bailed by police investigating the death of his wife Geeta, who was left for dead after being attacked in Southall as she went to pick up their two sons from a childminder.

The radio station receptionist, 28, was found with serious head injuries and her right hand severed after the frenzied attack on Monday evening.She was taken to Charing Cross hospital but later died of her injuries.

Detectives today said they believe her hand was cut off as she desperately tried to protect herself.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Groves, who is leading the investigation, said: "The severance of her right hand was part and parcel of the attack. It could be a defence wound if she put her hand up to protect herself. Whether there are other religious or cultural things, I doubt any significance can be put on that. I'm keeping an open mind as to what weapon was used — it doesn't take a lot of guesswork to imagine what might have been used.

"Mrs Aulakh received significant injuries to her head, but I'm not prepared to go into details but they were substantial."

He added: "We don't have a motive yet — it's still early days. It's not something where there is an obvious motive like a robbery or a burglary."

He confirmed Mrs Aulakh had not been scalped and said her body would be formally identified this afternoon before an inquest is opened.

Police say the six men arrested have been bailed until January.