Garage worker pleads guilty to murder of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa

A garage worker has pleaded guilty to the murder of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa in Kidbrooke last year.

Ms Nessa who worked at Rushey Green primary school in Catford was attacked while walking to meet a friend at The Depot Bar on September 17, 2021.

The 28-year-old had left her home in nearby Astell Road and her body was found the next day in Cator Park by a member of the public.

Koci Selamaj, 36, pleaded guilty to her murder at the Old Bailey today. He accepted responsibility for her death in December last year.

Alice Morgan QC said at a previous hearing that the attack was carried out with “extreme violence”.

CCTV showed the suspect arriving at the park at around 8pm and where he waited for half an hour.

He then attacked Ms Nessa with what is believed to be a metal traffic triangle before carrying her away.

Ms Nessa was not seen again alive.

Her body was found the next day covered in grass and her tights and underwear had been removed.

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.

“He is then seen to move towards the deceased and striking her repeatedly using a weapon which was approximately 2ft in length.

“In fact it was a weapon which appeared to break up during the course of the many strikes on the deceased.

“The CCTV footage shows the defendant then carrying the deceased, who appeared to be unconscious by that point, up a bank and effectively out of sight.”

Three days before the murder, Selamaj booked a room for September 17 at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne.

He checked into the hotel on the day and was seen in the lobby wearing the same clothes as the person captured on the CCTV in Kidbrooke.

His journey from Eastbourne to London was tracked by ANPR cameras and cell site evidence.

He returned to Eastbourne that evening, disposing of the weapon in a river on the way.

DCI Neil John, who led the investigation into Sabina’s murder, said:“Selamaj’s senseless attack cut short the life of a completely innocent woman who had so much to look forward to.

“Her family and friends have had their lives turned upside down and my thoughts will always remain with them. I can never imagine the pain they have gone through or how they have found the strength to come to court and relive what happened to Sabina. They are truly remarkable.

“This case was a truly collaborative effort, from forensic teams gathering vital evidence, to officers trawling through hundreds of hours of CCTV.

“This left Selamaj with no choice but to plead guilty and I know it is a great relief to Sabina’s family that they do not have to sit through a lengthy trial.”

Selamaj is due to be sentenced on April 7.