An Indian man accused of rape and murder in the UK 10 years ago is set to be extradited from India to face charges in Britain, according to a media report.
Aman Vyas, 34, is believed to be in custody in India before he is flown to London to face trial over the murder of Michelle Samaraweera, a 35-year-old woman found dead in a children’s playground in Walthamstow, east London, in 2009, the Sunday Mirror reports. It is believed she was sexually assaulted.
Vyas, described as the son of a wealthy Indian businessman, had been living in the UK on a student visa at the time and is also wanted for questioning over three other alleged sexual attacks, which also occurred in the east London area before the murder of Samaraweera.
He left Britain to live with relatives in India after a warrant was issued for his arrest by Scotland Yard.
He was arrested at Delhi airport in 2011 while trying to board a flight to Thailand and was released on bail. He has since been fighting extradition to the UK and has appeared in court multiple times in India since.
"I'm delighted my sister will finally get a trial after all these years," Ann Chandradasa, the sister of Michelle Samaraweera, told the newspaper.
Last year, local Walthamstow Labour MP Stella Creasy, on behalf of the victim's family, had urged the then prime minister Theresa May to raise the case with prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the UK in April 2018 in an attempt to speed up the extradition.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)