Sabina Nessa: Murder detectives fear killer could strike again

Sabina Nessa death
Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry by speaking to the media at Cator Park
PA
Barney Davis @BarneyDavisES23 September 2021

Murder detectives said they fear the killer of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa could strike again as they investigate whether she was attacked by a stranger.

The 28-year-old was murdered as she took a five-minute shortcut through a park on her way to meet a friend at her local pub, detectives revealed.

Officers understand the primary school teacher, 28, left her home in the heart of a new £1billion regeneration project in Kidbrooke Village, just before 8.30pm on Friday, September 17.

Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry has said police are concerned the killer could strike again but he said there was nothing to suggest it would happen.

When asked about safety concerns and the chance of a repeat of the attack, he said: “It’s always a concern that it may happen, but that’s not something that we have any intelligence on at this time.”

When asked whether he believes a stranger was behind the attack, he added: “That’s definitely a line of inquiry that we’re looking at.”

Speaking from the crime scene in Cator Park, Kidbrooke, the Detective Chief Superintendent explained detectives have been “keeping a completely open mind” on what the motive of the attacker may have been.

When asked whether police have any leads on who the killer may be, he said: “There’s significant lines of inquiry at the moment and they’re ones that I can’t divulge.”

It is believed Ms Nessa left her home in Astell Road, crossing a bridge into Cator Park as she headed towards The Depot bar on Pegler Square where she planned to meet a friend.

Her body was found close to the OneSpace community centre within the park at around 5.30pm the following day.

Sabina Nessa death
Forensic Officers in Cator Park investigate the scene
PA

Police said a post-mortem examination carried out at Greenwich Mortuary on Monday was inconclusive.

Estate agents say Kidbrooke Village - one of London’s largest regeneration projects - has “completely transformed Kidbrooke into one of the most desirable places to live”, with two-bedroom flats fetching over £500,000.

Residents described Cator Park as “small and semi-busy”.

They expressed their shock her body was only discovered there nearly 24 hours after her murder.

Officers said they had been handing out personal attack alarms and safety leaflets to concerned residents who fear walking the streets at night.

Pegler Square, where the Depot lies and Ms Nessa tragically never made it to, will be the setting of a candlelit vigil on Friday night at 7pm.

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