My murdered cousin was stuffed in a freezer-my next act was a simple one

 Mihrican 'Jan' Mustafa was killed by Zahid Younis, who stuffed her body into a freezer along with Henriett Szucs, who he also killed - but following the tragedy Jan's cousin Ayse Hussein now helps families who have lost loved ones.

A woman who tragically had her cousin murdered and stuffed into a freezer now helps families who have lost loved ones - using a simple household table to help them deal with their grief.Mihrican 'Jan' Mustafa was murdered by evil Zahid Younis who stored her body, along with another woman's, in a padlocked freezer in an east London flat. Jan, 38, and Henriett Szucs, 34, had both been missing for months before their bodies were eventually found in the Canning Town property, in April 2019.

Jan’s heartbroken family previously spoke to the Mirror about the fallout of the tragic murder, after convicted sex offender Younis was jailed for life. But since then, Jan's cousin Ayse Hussein, has used her experience of tragedy to help families who have gone through similar heartbreak and loss.

As well as hosting annual events, gathering the loved ones of victims taken by murder, suicide, knife crime and more, Ayse also now acts as an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, after working in finance for two decades. Ayse told the Mirror she was "immensely proud" of what she’d done so far, and had worked shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s mum, Cheryl, and Zara Aleena’s aunt, Farah Naz - relatives whose lives have also been deep[ly affected by high-profile murders.

Jan, a beloved mum-of-three, pictured shortly before her death

Jan, a beloved mum-of-three, pictured shortly before her death

She recently held her second annual Tables of Love & Loss, where families and loved ones who had lost someone set up a table in memory of them. Instead of people mourning alone and isolated following their loss, Ayse’s event let them come together with others who had experienced something different.

On these tables people will have mementos, photos, and items and objects that help them remember their loved one. It helps them mourn collectively, instead of being alone during this tough time. People will walk around to one another's tables and talk and engage with each other. A number of charities will also have tables set up, offering help and support.

She recalled one particular case as an example of helping people who might not normally seek help: "One family member, he was a father who’d lost his daughter, he said he never came to these things, and on his walk up it was really daunting, because it was so big it was quite scary he found. But by the end he said it was something he really needed, and he got so much comfort and love out of it."

Ayse Hussein pictured with her beloved cousin Mihrican 'Jan' Mustafa

Explaining how she ended up running the table events, Ayse continued: "After losing Jan, I'd started to attend different vigils for families who'd lost loved ones. One thing I noticed, it was nice to reach out to the person to say who you are and why you were there.

"Our case was so complex, by the time we got around to arranging something for Jan, I wanted other families to be a part of the process, to share the experience. I was thinking of different ideas and how to do it and the idea of the table came up, each family had a table for their loved ones and their loss.

"I did my first one in 2022 and my second in 2023 … the mayor got up on stage and said she wants the event to be held annually whilst she was mayor, she saw how powerful it was and how impactful it was on the families. Everyone who was there had lost a loved one, if they said they understood, they really actually did."

Inside the hall of The second annual Tables of Love & Loss event with all the tables

The second annual Tables of Love & Loss event