ZARA ALEENA's family has expressed their anguish over her "preventable" death, as revealed in an ongoing inquest.
Aleena, a 35-year-old law graduate, was killed by Jordan McSweeney while walking home in Ilford, east London, in June 2022. McSweeney received a life sentence with a minimum of 38 years in December 2022 after admitting to her murder and sexual assault.
Farah Naz, Aleena’s aunt, told the inquest that a "crumbling justice system" played a role in her niece’s death.
McSweeney had been released from prison on licence on 17 June 2022 and, after breaching the conditions of his release, was slated to be recalled to prison on 24 June, just two days before the attack on Aleena.
Naz stressed the family's torment over the preventability of Zara's death and criticised the justice system meant to protect citizens. She recounted Zara's vibrant life, her role as a caregiver for her mother and grandmother, and her aspirations to work as a legal assistant at the Royal Courts of Justice.
“Since her death we have been campaigning so that our daughters, sisters, friends can be safe and protected as Zara never was. This is Zara’s legacy," Naz told the jury at East London Coroner’s Court in Walthamstow.
She described Aleena as a “carefree spirit with the most caring heart” who had dedicated her time to helping resettle refugees in the UK. She highlighted Zara’s plans for 2022, which included buying a home, finding a life partner, and starting a family. Tragically, these dreams were cut short when Aleena was attacked and killed while walking home from an evening out, she said.
The inquest, led by Coroner Nadia Persaud, aims to explore the circumstances surrounding Zara's death and whether any actions or omissions by state bodies contributed. McSweeney, who had a lengthy criminal history starting from age 13, was deemed a high-risk individual by the Probation Service.
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Kim Thornden-Edwards, the chief probation officer, testified that McSweeney should have been classified as high risk since 2021. She acknowledged the complexities in assessing McSweeney’s risk level, noting his history of burglaries and thefts. Thornden-Edwards also discussed the challenges in distinguishing between medium and high risk in assessments.
Additionally, Thornden-Edwards mentioned that probation staff are trained to thoroughly investigate information in risk assessments and avoid inflating or downplaying risks. She noted that electronic monitoring tags cannot be issued without an address, a factor that could have influenced McSweeney's case.
The inquest also heard from a forensic pathologist who stated that the cause of Aleena’s death was blunt force head injury and neck compression.
The proceedings are expected to last four weeks, as the court continues to delve into the factors leading to Zara Aleena's tragic death, reports said.
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)