Women’s rights campaigners have called for an inquiry into how law graduate Zara Aleena’s killer was released from prison days before he carried out the savage murder.
Jordan McSweeney, 29, trailed women through the streets of Ilford before grabbing Ms Aleena from behind and dragging her into a darkened driveway, where she was sexually assaulted and then killed.
Campaign group The Centre for Women’s Justice called Ms Aleena’s death “yet another tragedy that could have been avoided but for criminal justice failures” and called for a full investigation into the “wider circumstances that left a dangerous offender free to attack Zara”.
McSweeney had been recalled to prison after skipping probation meetings, but police had not yet managed to locate him when the murder happened.
The Metropolitan Police defended its actions, saying the force “did as much as they could do with what they knew at the time”.
As McSweeney was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 38 years, it emerged he had twice been reported to police for violence against partners but had not faced criminal prosecution.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, speaking outside the Old Bailey, vowed to tackle the “epidemic of violence against women and girls”, referencing recent murders of Sarah Everard, Bibaa Henry, Nicole Smallman, and Sabina Nessa at the hands of men.
“I am determined to break this sickening cycle of violence, condemnation and inaction”, he said.
Ms Aleena was walking home alone after a night out with a friend when she was preyed on by McSweeney. He was branded “spineless” by the judge for refusing to leave his cell to face sentencing.
London’s Victims Commissioner, Claire Waxman, called for tougher sentences for offenders who dodge court, saying the justice system “panders to the needs of the perpetrator and too often disregards the needs of the victim”.
Echoing the call, Shadow Justice Secretary Steve Reed said: “We will ensure judges have the power to choose to force offenders to face the consequences of their actions in court. Victims deserve nothing less."
