Human remains found inside dumped sofa in Australian bushland

Police in Australia launched a homicide investigation after the remains of a man were discovered inside a sofa abandoned in bushland on Sydney’s lower north shore.Reports said that a strong smell alerted residents to the suspected dumping site.A human torso was found in the storage compartment of a sofa-style couch about five metres from the road off Avian Crescent in Lane Cove North at around 2.30pm on Wednesday, police said.The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that a local man is believed to have discovered the remains while walking through the bushland with his wife, who said the couple had noticed the smell in recent days and decided to investigate.Forensic examinations at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Lidcombe confirmed that the remains belonged to an adult man. His identity has not yet been established.NSW Police superintendent Paul Devaney said that the torso had been at the location for “at least a couple of days”.Investigators have not established whether the couch was already in the bushland before the remains were placed inside it. Police have deployed cadaver dogs and specialist officers to search the surrounding area for further remains. “We are working around the clock to identify this male, what has led to his death and the disposal of his remains,” Mr Devaney said.The discovery has unsettled residents of Lane Cove North, who described the neighbourhood as a quiet and generally safe place.“[I’m] quite shocked actually, quite horrific really,” one woman told Nine News, saying she was on her morning walk when she heard helicopters overhead and saw the police presence.“Sometimes there’s medical emergencies, but it’s a shock to know it’s actually a body found.”Another resident Sophie Fattouh said the incident was particularly disturbing given the neighbourhood’s usually considered peaceful.“It’s disturbing, and it’s shocking as well,” she said.“It’s very peaceful and it’s a very friendly neighbourhood.”Her husband Ken said the couple had lived in the area for around 14 years without witnessing anything similar.“We haven’t heard or haven’t seen anything like it, so it is a bit, sort of worrying.”Local resident Rodney Campbell, who has lived in the area for nearly three decades, said he regularly walked his dog along the street and had noticed an unusually strong smell.“I assumed it actually was a dead animal. I’ve smelled it on farms and things before, like a dead cow or something. But not one that’s just been recently dead, I’m talking one that’s been dead for a very long time,” he told the Guardian.Mr Devaney described the incident as highly unusual for the neighbourhood, which he said had a “probably nil” crime rate.“We’re confident they’re (residents) not under any threat. There’s no indication that this person met foul play within the area of Lane Cove.”