Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Zara Aleena's killer challenges 'excessive' life sentence

Jordan McSweeney targeted Aleena as she walked home from a night out in east London in June last year

Zara Aleena's killer challenges 'excessive' life sentence

THE man convicted of stalking and brutally murdering aspiring lawyer, Zara Aleena, is poised to appeal his life sentence, which he deems 'manifestly excessive'.

Sexual predator Jordan McSweeney had targeted at least five women before he attacked Aleena on the night of June 26, 2022, as she made her way home from a night out in east London.


The horrifying assault, which lasted nine minutes, was captured by grainy CCTV footage, revealing McSweeney ambushing Aleena, punching her from behind, dragging her into a driveway, and ultimately subjecting her to 46 separate injuries.

McSweeney, 29, had been released from prison on license a mere nine days prior to the murder. Subsequently, he was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years after confessing to the murder and sexual assault of Aleena.

Despite his refusal to attend his sentencing hearing, McSweeney has now opted to challenge the sentence in a Court of Appeal. The hearing is scheduled for Friday (20) morning.

Just two days before the murder, McSweeney's license had been revoked due to his failure to meet probation workers' appointments. However, the recall request was still in the process of being executed, and the police were not informed of his impending arrest.

Following Aleena's tragic murder, Chief Inspector of Probation Justin Russell highlighted a series of errors in the Probation Service's handling of McSweeney.

He stressed that McSweeney, a 'career criminal' with a history of incarceration since the age of 16, should have been categorised as a high-risk offender.

According to Russell, if proper consideration had been given to his high-risk status, urgent action could have been taken to return him to prison after he missed his supervision appointments upon release from custody.

The appeal will be heard before Chief Justice Lady Carr, Justice McGowan, and Justice Ellenbogen and is scheduled to begin after 10am.

McSweeney had 28 previous convictions for 69 separate offenses at the time of Aleena's murder, including burglary, vehicle theft, criminal damage, assaulting police officers, and assaulting members of the public while on bail.

Coroner Nadia Persaud announced on Tuesday (17) her intention to empanel a jury for a month-long inquest into Aleena's death.

It will consider the actions of police officers and will also examine actions of prison and probation staff.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less