Sabina Nessa: Garage worker accepts responsibility for death of Kidbrooke school teacher but denies murder

An Albanian garage worker has accepted responsibility for the death of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, but has pleaded not guilty to her murder.

Koci Selamaj, 36, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, appeared at the Old Bailey for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday, and entered a formal plea of not guilty to a single count of the murder of Ms Nessa.

The court was told Mr Selamaj accepted responsibility for her death.

The judge, Mr Justice Wall, said the facts of the plea and Selamaj’s acceptance that “he is the person responsible for the death” could be reported by the media.

Ms Nessa, 28, was murdered as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, Greenwich, on her way to meet a friend on September 17.

Her body was found covered in leaves, nearly 24 hours later, near a community centre in the park.

Ms Nessa who taught a year one class at Rushey Green Primary School in Catford, Lewisham, was repeatedly struck with a 2ft long weapon.

Mr Selamaj was arrested in Eastbourne on September 26, and charged with murder.

A further pre-trial hearing was set for 25 February 2022, and Mr Selamaj remains in custody.

A trial of up to five weeks was set for 7 June.