Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CONSUMED WITH GRIEF
Five and six-year-olds to get counselling over death of beloved teacher Sabina
CHILDREN as young as five are being offered psychological support after the killing of their teacher Sabina Nessa.
The “brilliant” 28-year-old had taken over a Year One class only shortly before her murder nine days ago.
Lisa Williams, headteacher at Rushey Green Primary School in Lewisham, South London, said all the pupils and staff were devastated.
She added: “Sabina was a brilliant teacher. She was kind, caring and absolutely dedicated to her pupils.”
Sabina’s body was found in Cator Park, near her home in Kidbrooke, South East London, after she failed to arrive for a Friday night date at a pub.
Yesterday a child’s white T-shirt with the message “Thank you for being my teacher” hand-written in felt-tip pen was among tributes left at the park.
It is understood Ms Williams visited each class to talk to pupils, with educational psychologists also offering help.
The Duchess of Cambridge yesterday spoke of her grief for Sabina on her official Twitter feed.
THOUGHTS
She wrote: “I am saddened by the loss of another innocent young woman on our streets. My thoughts are with Sabina’s family and friends.”
An unnamed teacher at the 600-pupil school told a local newspaper: “It’s hard for teachers to reassure children while they are themselves consumed with grief.
“The Year Two pupils who she had last year in Year One will be the most upset – and their parents.”
Sabina, from Bedfordshire, studied at the University of Greenwich before completing her PGCE teacher training last year at her local university.
Her colleague, one of 70 staff at the school, said: “It’s awful enough when someone dies – this is so much worse. It’s impossible to comprehend. We were sitting beside her on Friday… then this.”
Two men have been arrested and released under investigation. Police yesterday searched drains near to where Sabina died and also want to trace a balding man seen close by at the time on CCTV.
Revealing he was holding a “red reflective item”, they said they are keeping an open mind as to whether it may have been used in her murder.
Det Chief Insp Neil John said: “People may recall this man carrying a red reflective object, and possibly trying to conceal it up his sleeve.”
On Friday night hundreds of mourners, including parents and pupils from Sabina’s school, gathered for a candlelight vigil in her memory.
Her sister, Jebina Yasmin Islam, broke down in tears as she told them: “I’ve lost my caring, beautiful sister.”
Sabina’s death has sparked fresh anger over women’s safety, six months after the murder of Sarah Everard, 33, by Met police officer Wayne Couzens.