A criminology student who asked his course lecturer how to get away with murderbefore stabbing a woman to death and knifing her friend in a random attack on Bournemouth beach has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 39 years.
An “extremely dangerous” social misfit with a “grievance against women”, Nasen Saadi, 21, killed Amie Gray, 34, and seriously wounded Leanne Miles, now 39, as the pair were enjoying a late-night chat next to a small fire to keep warm at the Dorset seaside resort last summer.
The 21-year-old fatally stabbed the personal trainer 10 times, including to her heart, and knifed Ms Miles 20 times on 24 May last year because he “wanted to feel powerful”, with Ms Gray’s “courageous final act” being to protect her friend.
The defendant had researched locations to carry out the killing and was “fascinated” with murder and violence as well as knives, buying six blades from websites, with several found at his aunt’s house where he was living as well as at his parents’ home.
Saadi, of Croydon, south London, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 39 years at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, after being convicted of murder and attempted murder in December following a trial at the same court. Saadi was also sentenced for failing to give his mobile phone PIN code to police. Wearing a blue sweatshirt and glasses, he showed no emotion as his punishment was read out.
Judge Ms Justice Cutts said that Saadi had chosen to deny his guilt because he wanted the “notoriety of a trial” and had a “complete lack of remorse” for the “utterly senseless” attack, adding: “I have no doubt you are an extremely dangerous young man and will remain so.”
She continued: “The clear evidence is you planned to kill and went to Bournemouth to do so. I am satisfied that you chose Amie Gray and Leanne Miles because you have a grievance against society as a whole and women in particular... It seems you have felt humiliated and rejected for any advances you have made towards girls, which has led over time to a deeply suppressed rage towards society and women in particular.”
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Sian Gray said that her wife’s death would “haunt” her for ever. She said: “At the age of 36, I should not have to hold my deceased wife’s cold hand, nor should my daughter have to say goodbye and grieve over a coffin... Amie’s beautiful life has now been reduced to forever being remembered as ‘the murder victim’.”
Ms Gray’s mother, Sharon Macklin, said in a statement: “Amie was an amazing, funny, kind and energetic soul. She had a big smile and a loud laugh, and when she entered the room it filled with laughter and her presence couldn’t be ignored. She was beautiful inside and out, even if life wasn’t great for her she would always find the time to help others.”
The trial heard that Saadi, who had been studying criminology and criminal psychology at the University of Greenwich, used the name “Ninja Killer” for his Snapchat account and also used the username “NSkills” on his computer.
Saadi, who had dropped out of a physical education course, had carried out searches about the Milly Dowler and Brianna Ghey killings.
Lecturer Dr Lisa-Maria Reiss told the court that Saadi had asked questions on “how to get away with murder”, and she asked him: “You’re not planning a murder are you?”
Saadi had booked two hotels for a four-night stay in Bournemouth starting 21 May and was shown on CCTV carrying out “recces” of the seafront and the scene of the murder, which happened at about 11.40pm on 24 May.
During his stay, the defendant, who is a fan of horror movies, also went to the cinema to see “slasher” movie The Strangers: Chapter 1.
Saadi, who chose not to give evidence, denied carrying out the attacks, saying it was a case of mistaken identity and adding that he must have “blacked out” when they happened.
Charles Sherrard KC, defending, described Saadi as a “social misfit” who had a “growing sense of rage against society”, with infamy becoming “a valid goal in itself”.
Stating what she believed motivated Saadi, Sarah Jones KC, prosecuting, had told the jury: “This defendant seems to have wanted to know what it would be like to take life. Perhaps he wanted to know what it would be like to make women feel afraid. Perhaps he thought it would make him feel powerful, make him interesting to others. Perhaps he just couldn’t bear to see people engaged in a happy normal social interaction and he decided to lash out, to hurt, to butcher.”
The court was told Ms Gray had tried to distract Saadi while he was attacking Ms Miles, shouting “get away”, allowing her friend to flee.
Benjamin May, a senior crown prosecutor with CPS Wessex, said: “Amie’s courageous final act to protect her friend truly defines who she was, and her life will forever be remembered for the love and protection she gave to her loved ones.
“Our thoughts continue to remain with her friends and family, as well as with Leanne Miles, whose bravery through this ordeal helped us to deliver justice.
“Saadi’s perverse fascination with murder and violence morphed into vile, real-world consequences, for which he has faced justice.”
Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins, of Dorset Police, added: “It appears that he targeted Amie and Leanne, who he had never met and were simply enjoying a peaceful evening on the beach, just because he saw an opportunity to surprise and overpower them.”
Following Saadi’s sentencing, Mr Jenkins spoke of his “relief” that the “dangerous” killer had been brought to justice.
