The family of Zara Aleena said they were "deeply troubled" after a female prison worker was charged with having an ‘inappropriate relationship' with her killer in prison.
Jordan McSweeney is serving 33 years in the high security HMP Belmarsh for murdering the law graduate, 35, as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, in June 2022.
Hayley Jones, 33, from Strood, Kent, allegedly had a month-long sexual relationship with McSweeney, 31, in the high security jail.
She has been charged with wilful misconduct in a public office.
McSweeney, 31, has also been charged with assisting an offender between March 6 and April 7, 2023.
They are both due to appear at Westminster magistrates' court on Wednesday.
Zara Aleena's family told Mail Online they are “deeply disappointed and troubled” by the allegations of sexual relationship between McSweeney and Jones.
Her aunt Farah Naz said: “We must investigate how a high-security prisoner was apparently left alone with a female staff member. We must examine Belmarsh Prison’s management practices, staff screening, and supervision.
“When he was sentenced to life imprisonment, I assured my family that justice had been served. It is deeply troubling to learn that the prison system had failed to manage a Class A prisoner just four months into his life sentence,' she said.
"This situation not only defies justice but also highlights serious systemic failures."
Ms Naz acknowledged that Jones has been charged, but added "this does not resolve the core issue of how such a serious breach happened" adding that the family was "deeply disappointed" McSweeney had been able to allegedly conduct a sexual relationship in jail.
The Old Bailey previously heard McSweeney had ambushed Zara Aleena and punched her in the back of the head before dragging the 35-year-old into a driveway.
He kicked her as she lay on the ground as she was walking home after a night out in June 2022.
He sexually assaulted her then grabbed her handbag, mobile phone and keys. He initially then walked away but returned moments later to continue his fatal attack, the jury was told.
Ms Aleena died in hospital from a blunt force head injury and neck compression.
McSweeney was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting Ms Aleena's murder and sexual assault.
He had been released from prison on licence just nine days before the killing, but had breached his conditions and was recalled to prison on 22 June.
The police were given powers to arrest him two days later, but delays in paperwork meant the police were unable to arrest him before he killed her.
In November 2023, McSweeney won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence form 38 to 33 years.
