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The family of a woman who was brutally murdered while walking home from a night out said her killer should have faced them in court so they could “look him in the eye” as he was sentenced.
Aspiring barrister Zara Aleena, 35, was sexually assaulted before being murdered in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of June 26 this year by a man who had been released from prison less than two weeks earlier. .
Jordan McSweeney, 29, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 38 years this week after pleading guilty to the murder and sexual assault of Ms Aleena.
The sexual predator refused to leave his cell for his sentence at the Old Bailey, and the court was told that McSweeney, who had 28 previous convictions, “did not want to relive” the night.
Jordan McSweeney, 29, (pictured) was given a life sentence with a minimum of 38 years this week after pleading guilty to the murder and sexual assault of Zara Aleena.
Aspiring barrister Zara Aleena, 35, (pictured) was sexually assaulted before being murdered in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of June 26 this year by a man who had been released from prison less than two weeks before.
Ms Aleena’s aunt, Farah Naz, a 55-year-old psychotherapist, criticized the “unfair” rules that allowed McSweeney to avoid confronting the family who would have wanted to “look him in the eye”.
She said sunday times: ‘Allowing him not to have to revive him, allowing him that, seems so unfair to me. He seems very biased towards his rights and doesn’t care about ours at all.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab echoed these views, vowing to crack down on the rules and force criminals to confront victims’ families in future.
He said Dominic Lawson, columnist for the Sunday Times: ‘Those convicted of serious crimes must face the judge and their victims at the time of sentencing. That is part of seeing that justice is done.
Ms Aleena’s aunt Farah Naz, a 55-year-old psychotherapist, criticized the “unfair” rules that allowed McSweeney to avoid confronting the family who would have wanted to “look him in the eye”.
Passing sentence, Judge Cheema-Grubb said: ‘The defendant had the physical advantages of force and surprise. In everything else, she was better than him. She was talented, energetic, smart and kind’
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has vowed to crack down on the rules and force criminals to confront the families of victims in the future.
“At the moment, offenders who refuse to attend court can be sanctioned while in prison (losing privileges), but I want to go further and legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows to give courts the power to compel them to attend.
Raab said he promised to give courts the powers to bring offenders to court “as soon as parliamentary time allows.” He also launched a ‘serious case review’ to see if any mistakes had been made with the McSweeney case.
The attorney general has been asked to review McSweeney’s punishment under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme, with the would-be lawyer’s family saying they would “welcome” McSweeney being in prison “for the rest of his life”.
McSweeney has 28 prior convictions in total, for 69 separate crimes, including robbery, theft of a vehicle, criminal mischief, assaulting police officers and assaulting members of the public while on bail.
In separate incidents, McSweeney attempted to assault a 12-year-old girl, strangled, slapped and pushed a former girlfriend downstairs, and punched and punched another former partner.
The killer was released from a jail sentence for robbery on June 17, but by June 22 the Probation Service had begun removal proceedings.
In separate incidents, McSweeney (pictured) attempted to assault a 12-year-old girl, strangled, slapped and pushed an ex-girlfriend downstairs, and punched and punched another former partner.
Ms. Aleena’s family paid tribute to her, calling her the “center of our family” who “brought energy,” “light,” and “fun.”
Just nine days after his release, he killed Ms. Aleena.
The Metropolitan Police said they were informed of the proceedings on June 24, the following day officers went to an address linked to McSweeney to arrest him, but were unable to find him; he subsequently was arrested on June 27.
McSweeney isn’t the only killer who has managed to avoid confronting his victim’s family.
At sentencing, Koci Selamaj, who killed 28-year-old primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, refused to appear in the dock.
Similarly, Emma Tustin, who was sentenced to life in prison after killing her stepson, six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, refused to appear in court.
The court heard that McSweeney had been thrown out of a pub before he “roamed the streets looking for a woman to attack and sexually assault”.
He followed several women before following Mrs. Aleena.
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow told the court: “The defendant saw her, decided to follow her and was determined to assault her.” He came up behind her, grabbed her by the neck, and dragged her into a driveway.
‘Despite being only a few meters from a public street and neighboring houses, the defendant attacked her with a savagery that is almost impossible to believe.
‘He repeatedly kicked and stomped on her head and body, ripped some of her clothing from her body so that he could sexually assault her; and then he attacked her again, kicking and stomping on her face and neck, and coming back several times to continue the brutal violence.’
The victim had been dragged into a driveway where she was strangled to unconsciousness.
Zara Aleena was brutally attacked by McSweeney while walking down Cranbrook Road in Ilford on June 26 this year.
McSweeney then removed her leggings and underwear so he could sexually assault her, before stomping on her so she “could never tell anyone what had been done to her.”
He went on to throw his phone over a garden wall so it was out of reach.
Ms. Aleena’s keys with two large purple heart key chains and her underwear were found dumped a few doors down the street, her blue bag was found dumped in a bush and her leggings were found on a tree branch a little further away.
On reaching home, Ms. Aleena’s friend, Bhamini Bati, called her mobile, but she did not answer. She sent a WhatsApp message at 2:20 that said ‘Y home hun?’ to which there was no response.
Zara had started working at the Royal Courts of Justice five weeks before her death and was “happier than ever”, her family said.
Ms. Aleena was taken to the hospital at around 4:30 am and the cause of death was neck compression and blunt force to the head.
Her aunt, Ms Naz, said she relives her niece’s death “every day”.
She said: ‘We barely slept. I can’t think of a night I’ve slept through the night since Zara was murdered.
‘We are traumatized.
‘It seems very strange that a defendant should not listen to the whole process and face what he did. And now he will never be.
Her aunt paid tribute to Ms. Aleena by calling her the ‘center of our family’ who ‘brought energy’, ‘light’ and ‘fun’.
Passing sentence, Judge Cheema-Grubb said: ‘The defendant had the physical advantages of force and surprise.
In everything else, she was better than him. She was talented, energetic, smart, and kind.