The man who murdered Sabina Nessa has been sentenced to life in prison.
Koci Selamaj, from Eastbourne, was handed a 36-year minimum prison term after a judge ruled that he had gained 'considerable pleasure' from his attack on the 28-year-old teacher.
Ms Nessa had been walking to meet a friend when she was killed by Selamaj on 17 September 2021.
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Police told the court that he had been 'skulking in the shadows' of Cator Park, London, looking for someone when he came across Ms Nessa.
It was heard that Ms Nessa was struck over the head multiple times with a metal warning triangle by Selamaj - who had been waiting in the park since 8pm that night - and then strangled her to death.
Selamaj, who refused to appear at the sentencing hearing, was later arrested and pleaded guilty to murder.
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Presiding over the case, Justice Sweeney branded the 36-year-old's actions as 'savage'.
He said: "Sabina Nessa was the wholly blameless victim of an absolutely appalling murder which was entirely the fault of the defendant - who has added to the sense of insecurity that people, particularly women, have living in our cities when walking or travelling alone, especially at night."
Justice Sweeney also described Selamaj's decision not to face Ms Nessa's family for sentencing as 'cowardly' and said he showed no remorse for his actions.
He told the court: "She died in a way that no one should, and that will torment them all, and Sabina’s friends, for the rest of their lives.
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"It is a striking feature of the defendant’s case that, clearly deliberately, it is not suggested by him that he has any remorse for what he did to Sabina Nessa."
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, who led the investigation, said during a press briefing that Ms Nessa had the 'misfortune' of being his first target.
He said: "He was in that park for 22 minutes in a predatory manner - hood up, skulking in the shadows, looking around - and unfortunately Sabina was effectively his first opportunity.
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"It was a premeditated, sexually motivated murder."
While a sexual assault was ruled out by the investigation, the court heard physical evidence demonstrated a 'sexual motivation'.
Ms Nessa’s parents Abdur Rouf and Azibun Nessa said their lives had been destroyed and condemned Selamaj for not appearing at court.
They said: "You had no right to take our daughter’s life away and no right to touch her.
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"Not knowing why you carried out this murder will remain on our minds."
Earlier in the day of 17 September, staff at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, where Selamaj had checked in, called police on 101 to report him acting suspiciously.
However, officers did not attend the hotel.
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