36 year sentence for man who murdered Sabina Nessa
Koci Selamaj from Eastbourne has been given a life sentence
Last updated 8th Apr 2022
Koci Selamaj has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 36 years for murdering primary school teacher Sabina Nessa in London last year.
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to the murder having driven to London from his home in Eastbourne to carry out a premeditated attack on a woman with “extreme violence”.
The garage worker lurked around Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, before targeting 28-year-old Ms Nessa as she passed through on her way to meet a friend on September 17 last year.
CCTV footage captured the moment Selamaj attacked Ms Nessa by striking her over the head 34 times with a 2ft-long metal traffic triangle, before carrying her away unconscious. and murdering her.
The body of Ms Nessa, who taught a year one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, was found nearly 24 hours later near a community centre in the park.
Selamaj, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was arrested in the seaside town and charged over her death days later.
In February, the Albanian national pleaded guilty to murder.
Mr Justice Sweeney set a minimum term of 36 years for the “savage” sexually motivated attack.
He said Ms Nessa was the “wholly blameless victim of an absolutely appalling murder which was entirely the fault of the defendant.”
Her death added to “the sense of insecurity” particularly felt by woman walking through the city at night.
“She had every right, as her family said, to be walking through the park all glammed up and out to enjoy herself after a long week at work.”
“The defendant robbed her and them of her life,” he said.
The judge noted the defendant’s guilty plea and lack of previous convictions.
But he added: “It is a striking feature of the defendant’s case that, clearly deliberately, it is not suggested by him that he had any remorse for what he did to Sabina Nessa.”
The judge said it was “cowardly” of the Albanian national to refuse to attend his sentencing but said he had no power to force him.
An 'evil coward'
Following the sentencing, Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Inspector Neil John described Selamaj as an “evil coward”.
He said: “It is highly unusual for someone to go from zero to a crime of this magnitude.
“We are pleased Selamaj will spend the majority of his life in prison.”
Sabina's family call killer an animal
Addressing her absent killer on Thursday, Ms Nessa’s parents Abdur Rouf and Azibun Nessa said in a statement: “You had no right to take her away from us in such a cruel way.
“The moment the police officer came to our house and told her she was found dead our world shattered into pieces.
“How could you do such a thing to an innocent girl walking by, minding her own business.
“You are not a human being, you are an animal.”
Vigils held for Sabina Nessa after her death
Sabina Nessa vigil
