Thirty years on, and Westminster flat killer of Marina Koppel finally brought to justice

A man who brutally murdered a woman 30 years ago is facing a life sentence after Met scientists used new DNA techniques on a single hair left at the scene to prove he was the killer.

Hair found on a ring worn by Marina Koppel, stabbed at least 140 times at her Westminster flat in 1994, has finally brought Sandip Patel to justice.

Patel, 51, of Queens Court, Finchley Road, Camden was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey today. He appears for sentencing at the same court tomorrow (Friday).

Marina, who was 39 at the time of her death, lived and worked in her Westminster flat during the week and spent time with her husband in Northampton during the weekend.

It was an unconventional relationship as Marina worked as a masseuse and occasional sex worker, but the two were happily married.

She was also a loving mother and worked hard to send money home to her family in Colombia, including her two children who were being cared for by her family there.

On Monday, August 8, 1994, Marina’s husband became worried when he could not get hold of her for some time and so travelled to her flat to check she was okay.

When he arrived at the flat, his worst fears were confirmed when he found Marina’s body unresponsive and covered in blood.

He alerted police immediately, who conducted an in-depth analysis of the crime, scene gathering crucial evidence, including the ring she was wearing. During their search, they also found a plastic shopping bag which had Patel’s fingerprints on it.

Patel, who was 21 at the time, worked in the shop where the bag had come from and so the presence of his fingerprints was not considered significant evidence, and for many years the case went unsolved.

In 2008 further items were examined, among them a ring which had a hair attached. By 2022, improved techniques available allowed for a DNA profile to be obtained from the hair on the ring.

It was at this stage that the hair was linked to Patel, whose DNA was now on the database after he committed Actual Bodily Harm in 2012.

Patel was arrested on January 19 last year on suspicion of Marina’s murder. Fingerprint experts then also matched his footprints to some bloodstained bare footprints that were found at the crime scene.

This, alongside the DNA on the hair, the fingerprints on the plastic bag and the fact that a bank card belonging to Marina, stolen at the time from her flat, was used at a cash point just half a mile from his home shortly after the murder, was enough to convince the jury of his guilt.

Marina’s family members were left distraught after her death and, sadly, her husband died in 2005 before he saw her killer brought to justice.

Her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary and Martin Koppel, paid tribute to Marina, saying: “Our sister-in-law, was an extremely bright, highly intelligent and charismatic person, who saw good in her family and all people she met.

“She wanted to give them everything they needed, especially her two children and nephew who grew up in Columbia.

“Her family and friends would have been in a much better place because of her abundance of energy for life had she not died.

“Marina was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a loving aunt, a daughter-in-law and a sister-in-law who was much loved by all of us as she loved all of us.

“Had Marina lived, all of the lives of her family and friends would have been enriched and further evolved. We have all suffered these many, many years because we lost Marina so early in life”.

Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin, head of the specialist casework team for central specialist crime said: “We are so pleased that finally Marina’s killer has been brought to justice. It is extremely sad that her husband did not live to see this day.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with Marina’s family and friends and we hope that today’s verdict will bring some closure for them.

“Even though Patel has been convicted for the brutal murder of Marina, we may never know the reasons for his actions on that day. Unsolved murder cases are never closed and it is due to the developments of forensic techniques we have been able to identify the suspect for this barbaric crime.”

Dan Chester, of the Met’s forensic lead for cold case homicide investigations, said: “Unsolved historic murders can be among some of the most complex and challenging cases for police to solve.

“However, today’s result provides an example where forensic science, newer technologies and collaborative working practices have had a positive impact in bringing a brutal killer to justice.”

Pictured top: Marina May (Picture: The Met)