A TEACHER was murdered by a stranger in a park just five minutes from her home, her heartbroken family have revealed. Sabina Nessa, 28, was discovered hidden under a pile of leaves by a dog walker in Cator Park in Kidbrooke, South East London, on Saturday. Police believe the “brilliant” teacher, who had worked helping […]
A TEACHER was murdered by a stranger in a park just five minutes from her home, her heartbroken family have revealed.
Sabina Nessa, 28, was discovered hidden under a pile of leaves by a dog walker in Cator Park in Kidbrooke, South East London, on Saturday.
Police believe the “brilliant” teacher, who had worked helping non-English speakers develop their language skills, was set upon on Friday as she walked home.
Her cousin Zubel Ahmed told ITV News today: “She’s been attacked on the way home and she was five minutes away from here walking home her usual route that she’s been taking for the last few weeks where she’s been working from school to home, going back and forth.
“She was due to go and see her family at the weekend and even that… she couldn’t even do that one last time unfortunately.”
Zubel paid tribute to his cousin and described her as the “sweetest person”.
He said the devastated family do not understand how “someone can do this”.
Zubel added: “We went and saw her parents, they are inconsolable. It’s the worst way for someone to go.
“The shock has not sunk in. She was a beautiful, kind, caring soul.
“I express my deepest sympathies for her sisters – Mum and dad are absolutely devastated.
“Nothing is making sense to us, why was she taken from us we just don’t know.”
Sabina’s death has sparked outrage after she joined a growing list of women killed in public spaces in London in recent months.
Campaigners are now demanding action to tackle violence against women in the wake of the latest tragedy.
Our Streets Now said: “It’s why we don’t walk where we want, when we want.
“It’s why we tense at the sound of a car pulling up, or of a man crossing the street towards us.
“It’s why 1 in 5 girls have avoided their place of education.
“Please, stop telling us we’re overreacting.
“Sabina Ness, Sarah Everard, Bibaa Henry, Nicole Smallman.
“And these are just the names that we remember.
“Male violence is killing us. It’s restricting our right to be free and equal citizens.
“We need change, now.”
Sisters Uncut, who defied a police banning order to hold a vigil for Sarah Everard, said they “refuse to be trapped in this cycle of grief”.
The group added: “Sabina Nessa was walking home when she was killed and her body left in a public place.
“Sabina’s story is harrowing and heartbreaking, our love and rage goes out to her family and loved ones.”
While Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said “women and girls deserve to feel safe at all times”.
A candlelight vigil has been organised by Reclaim These Streets at 7pm tonight in Kidbrooke Village.
Police believe Sabina was attacked at 8.30pm on Friday when the park was likely to be full of joggers and dog walkers.
A man, aged in his 40s, arrested on suspicion of murder has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.
Anyone who with information or who saw someone loitering or acting suspiciously has been asked to police on 101 quoting reference 5747/18.
