Police release picture of youth killed in park

An artist's impression of an unidentified youth whose burnt and beaten body was found in a London park last week was released by Scotland Yard yesterday.

The victim, who detectives say was Asian and aged between 14 and his mid-twenties, was found in Kingsbury, north-west London, on 19 February. No one fitting that description has been reported missing and police checks in Britain and abroad have failed to produce any leads. The body had been doused in petrol and then set alight.

Police said the youth had an unusual dental make-up, which could help in his identification. Detective Superintendent Nigel Mawer said police forensic scientists had discovered that the victim had two lower molars missing from birth and had no wisdom teeth, which was "very unusual". He appealed to dentists to examine their patients' records.

The victim had been beaten about the head with some sort of implement but the weapon has not been found. The attack is thought to have taken place in Roe Green Park, where the body was discovered. It is unclear whether he was set on fire while still alive. His burns were so extensive that police were initially unable to tell if he was white, black or Asian.

The picture shows an Asian male with straight black hair, which was short and spiky on top. It was compiled by a forensic artist with the help of post-mortem photographs and advice from a pathologist and an odontologist.