A garage worker has today pleaded guilty to murdering primary school teacher Sabina Nessa as she walked to meet a friend.
Koci Selamaj has admitted murdering the 28-year-old after he drove to London from his home in Eastbourne to carry out a pre-meditated attack on a woman with "extreme violence".
The garage worker lurked around Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east, London, before targeting Ms Nessa as she passed through on her way to meet a friend on September 17 last year.
The body of Ms Nessa, who taught a year one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, was found nearly 24 hours later covered with grass near a community centre in the park.
He murder heightened concern for the safety of women and girls following the stranger murders of Sarah Everard, and sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman.
Here is a timeline of events in the case against Selamaj:
Saturday, September 18, 2021 - Sabina's body found
Sabina’s body was found on a Saturday afternoon - September 18 - by a member of the public at Cator Park near OneSpace community centre on Kidbrooke Park Road in southeast London.
Police officers were called at 5.32pm that day, after her body lay undiscovered for almost 24 hours.
The body was identified as that of Sabina Nessa, a 28-year-old primary school teacher who had headed out around 8.30pm the previous evening and had been meant to meet a friend after taking a five-minute long walk through the southeast London park.
Police appealed for anyone who might have seen someone "loitering or acting suspiciously" in the park to get in contact to assist with enquiries.
Thursday, September 23, 2021 - Sabina's family reacts to her murder
Sabina's sister, who goes by the Twitter handle @jaxjn02, spoke for the first time since news of the tragedy emerged, saying Sabina was her "inspiration".
She said: "My beautiful talented and caring sister, my inspiration to always put myself first and never let anybody put me down never in my life did I or my sisters or my mum or dad think this could happen to us."
She went on to say: "3 sisters down to 2", before adding "no mother or father should have to go through this, may Allah grant my parents ease".
Sabina's sister later spoke to PA news agency to say there were "no words" to describe how her family was feeling.
Friday, September 24, 2021 - CCTV image released by police
Detectives investigating the murder of Sabina released CCTV video footage of a man urgently being sought by police.
Scotland Yard footage and moving CCTV still captures of the man showed him walking in Pegler Square in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on the evening the 28-year-old was attacked.
The 12-second clip showed a balding man wearing a black hooded coat and grey jeans looking over his shoulder and pulling at his hood as he walks down a path.
Friday, September 24, 2021 - Vigil held for Sabina
Family and friends of Sabina, as well as strangers demanding an end to violence against women, gathered in Peglar Square, Kidbrooke, on the Friday evening following the discovery of her body, in memory of the 28-year-old teacher.
Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects at the vigil, which was held by Reclaim These Streets.
RTS encouraged people to light a candle on their doorstep at 7pm, if they could not join in person.
Jebina Yasmin Islam, Sabina's sister, broke down as she addressed crowds at the vigil.
She said: “I just want to say thank you to everyone who came today to show support for my sister.
“We have lost an amazing, caring, beautiful sister, who left this world far too early.”
Sunday, September 26, 2021 - Arrested
Detectives investigating the murder of Ms Nessa arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of murder in what Scotland Yard said was a “significant development”.
Met Police announced the arrest on Sunday morning, just over a week after the primary school teacher was found dead in a south London park.
The force said he was arrested at around 3am on Sunday in East Sussex.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: "Sabina's family have been informed of this significant development and they continue to be supported by specialist officers."
Monday, September 27, 2021 - Charged
The Metropolitan Police confirmed Koci Selamaj, 36, from Eastbourne, East Sussex was charged with Ms Nessa's murder.
Lisa Ramsarran, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge Koci Selamaj, 36, with one count of murder.
“The charge relates to the murder of 28-year-old primary school teacher Sabina Nessa in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on Friday, September 17 2021.
“The CPS London Homicide Unit authorised the charge following a review of a file of evidence received from the Metropolitan Police Service."
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 - First court appearance
Selamaj appeared at Willesden magistrates' court for a two-minute hearing, wearing a grey sweater and grey jogging bottoms.
He was asked to confirm his name, address and date of birth by the legal advisor.
He then indicated a not guilty plea for one count of murder through his representative, Aidan Harvey.
District judge Denis Brennan remanded Selamaj in custody.
Thursday, December 16, 2021 - Admits killing
Selamaj denied murdering Ms Nessa but told the court he accepts that he killed her.
The 36-year-old was accused of carrying out what the prosecution alleges was a "pre-meditated and predatory" attack.
The defendant entered a formal not guilty plea to murder.
Addressing defence barrister Aidan Harvey, Mr Justice Wall said: "Is there any dispute your client killed Ms Nessa?"
Mr Harvey replied: "There is not, my Lord. He accepts he killed her."
Mr Justice Wall set a trial, set to last up to five weeks, for June 7, 2022.
The defendant was remanded into custody.
Friday, February 25, 2022 - Pleads guilty to murder
The full horror of the premeditated murder was read to the court.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC said: "The circumstances in which Ms Nessa's body was found demonstrated the sexual motivation that must have existed - the positioning of her legs, the exposure of parts of her body and the removal of her underwear and tights."
Salamaj had entered Cator Park in Kidbrooke shortly after 8pm and lay in wait for half an hour before Ms Nessa arrived on route to The Depot bar where she was due to meet a friend.
Ms Morgan said: "The defendant is seen in effect loitering in locations around the park before spotting the deceased, checking to see if anyone else was nearby before turning and running after her.
Ms Morgan said Selamaj incapacitated Ms Nessa with 34 blows to the head from a metal emergency triangle. Selamaj's actions afterwards were out of camera shot, but Ms Nessa was not seen alive again.
The court heard he tried to cover her body in grass which was "sufficiently successful" that she was not found until about 5pm the next day.
Selamaj is due to be sentenced on April 7.
