Accused ‘accepts he killed’ Sabina but denies murder
THE devastated family of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa watched as a garage worker admitted responsibility for her killing yesterday.
Albanian Koci Selamaj denied murder at the Old Bailey but the court heard that he ‘accepts he killed’ Miss Nessa.
Miss Nessa’s sister Jebina Islam appeared to weep and covered her face as 36-year-old Selamaj entered a formal not guilty plea.
Miss Nessa, 28, was walking through a park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on her way to a first date when Selamaj is alleged to have pounced on September 17. He is accused of battering her with a two-foot long weapon in a ‘premeditated and predatory’ attack. It is believed he was a complete stranger to her.
Miss Nessa’s bloodied body was discovered hidden under a pile of leaves by a passing dog walker almost 24 hours later near a community centre 200 yards from her home.
Selamaj, who is in custody, appeared in court yesterday wearing a grey prison-issue t-shirt and a mask. The balding former Domino’s pizza delivery driver from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was helped by an Albanian interpreter as he entered his not guilty plea to a single count of murder.
But it was indicated on his behalf that he accepts responsibility for killing Miss Nessa, who taught a year one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, south-east London.
‘We will get you justice, sis’
Addressing defence barrister Aidan Harvey, Mr Justice Wall said: ‘Is there any dispute your client killed Miss Nessa?’
Mr Harvey replied: ‘There is not, my lord. He accepts he killed her.’
Miss Nessa’s father, two sisters, and brother-in-law, sat just a few feet away from the defendant.
A further pre-trial hearing was set for February 25, 2022. A trial date was set for June 7 and is scheduled to last two weeks.
After yesterday’s brief hearing, Miss Nessa’s sister, Mrs Islam, posted on Twitter: ‘Forever in our hearts and mind, as time goes on it’s harder to accept you are no longer here. We will get you justice, sis.’