Zara Aleena murder: Family have ‘some retribution but no peace’ after Jordan McSweeney’s life sentence

“Zara was the light, the warmth, the birdsong, the laughter in our family. We live with a profound loss each day and each day we are destroyed a little more.”
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The family of Zara Aleena say they have “some retribution but no peace” following the sentencing of Jordan McSweeney who killed her.

The 29-year-old of Dagenham, east London, was sentenced to a minimum of 38 years in prison for the murder and sexual assault of the 35-year-old law graduate.

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Ms Aleena died from multiple injuries after she was kicked and stamped on by McSweeney in the early hours of June 26.

McSweeney refused to appear in the dock at the Old Bailey on Wednesday to receive his sentencing from Mrs Justice Cheema Grubb.

Jordan McSweeney has been sentenced for a minimum of 38 years for the murder of Zara AleenaJordan McSweeney has been sentenced for a minimum of 38 years for the murder of Zara Aleena
Jordan McSweeney has been sentenced for a minimum of 38 years for the murder of Zara Aleena

Zara’s aunt Farah Naz said outside the court: “Today’s sentencing protects the public from a man who cannot and must not live freely in the world.

“His extreme indifference both to Zara´s life and for the law makes him a very dangerous man. We have some retribution, but no peace.

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“There are questions to be answered, there are lessons to be learnt, and changes to be made.

“Zara´s life was senselessly and brutally crushed, and today, like every other day we live with the horror she was forced to face.

“Zara was the light, the warmth, the birdsong, the laughter in our family. We live with a profound loss each day and each day we are destroyed a little more.

“We are deeply touched by the kindness we have felt from so many, and this is testament to the power of Zara´s spirit.”

“Zara was the light, the warmth, the birdsong, the laughter in our family. “ her aunt Farah Naz said.“Zara was the light, the warmth, the birdsong, the laughter in our family. “ her aunt Farah Naz said.
“Zara was the light, the warmth, the birdsong, the laughter in our family. “ her aunt Farah Naz said.
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Zara was walking home along Cranbrook Road in Ilford in the early hours of Sunday June 26 when she was approached from behind and dragged into a driveway by McSweeney.

He subjected her to a brutal attack, returning multiple times to deliver repeated blows, leaving her with significant injuries.

Neighbours and passers-by tried their best to provide first aid to Zara until the arrival of paramedics, with one person giving her CPR.

She was rushed to hospital but sadly died later that morning.

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The investigation found that McSweeney had spent the evening of June 25 in a bar in Ilford, drinking heavily, before being ejected at around 11pm

Over the course of the next three hours, he can be seen on CCTV footage roaming around Ilford and nearby Manor Park, visibly drunk, following multiple lone women, two for prolonged periods.

One of the women was seen on camera running down a residential street to get away.

Shortly after 2am McSweeney spotted Zara on Cranbrook Road.

He can be seen following her for around 10 minutes before attacking her in the driveway of a house near to the junction with Cranbrook Rise, causing the serious injuries from which she would tragically not recover.

Jordan McSweeney Jordan McSweeney
Jordan McSweeney
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Following Zara’s death, detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command launched an immediate investigation and identified footage that showed McSweeney – who at the time had not been identified by name – as the attacker.

His image was circulated within the Met and to the public. An officer who had dealt with him for a previous offence was able to provide detectives with his name and a fingerprint found in blood at the scene was compared with police records to confirm a match.

Simultaneously, detectives were examining footage from multiple CCTV cameras, tracking McSweeney as he calmly left the scene of the murder, walked back along Cranbrook Road and climbed over a fence into nearby Valentines Park where, at the time, a fairground was based.

On the afternoon of Monday June 27 – around 36 hours after the attack – officers were sent to the fairground to make further enquiries.

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They confirmed McSweeney was staying on site and at 2.40pm arrested him on suspicion of murder and rape.

While he was in custody, further CCTV enquiries were carried out at the fairground.

Footage showed that hours after he had murdered Zara, he walked across the site wearing the same vest top as in the footage of the attack, carrying a bag.

Minutes later he returned to his caravan, having discarded the bag and the vest.

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These items were later found elsewhere on the site, with the bag containing the shoes and other items he was wearing when he killed Zara.

In the early hours of Wednesday June 29, McSweeney was charged with murder, rape and robbery. The latter offence related to the removal of Zara’s belongings, many of which were found discarded on his route away from the crime scene.

He pleaded guilty to murder and sexual assault at the Old Bailey on November 18.

Det Ch Insp Dave Whellams, who led the investigation, said: “To lose a loved one in these terrible circumstances is awful, particularly in cases where the public attention is so great. Zara’s family have shown remarkable courage and strength throughout this ordeal.

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“My thoughts and those of my team are with them and I hope they are now given the space and privacy they need.

“Jordan McSweeney is not a sophisticated criminal.

“He attacked Zara out in the open on a residential street and other than a clumsy effort to hide a bag containing his belongings, he did not try to cover his tracks.

“He has admitted that the attack on Zara was sexually motivated.

“This is consistent with what he was seen to do on CCTV on that night, when for hours he roamed around fixated on lone women who he brazenly followed right up until they managed to reach the safety of their homes.

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“This was a ferocious and repetitive attack that shocked even experienced murder detectives. The length of sentence handed down by the court is an indication of its severity.

“There is no doubt McSweeney is an extremely dangerous individual. London is a safer city, particularly for women, with him behind bars.”

Mayor Sadiq Khan. Photo: GettyMayor Sadiq Khan. Photo: Getty
Mayor Sadiq Khan. Photo: Getty

The mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Today, yet another violent man has been sentenced for the horrific killing of yet another innocent woman.

“Zara Aleena’s future was stolen by someone with no regard for her life or the laws of our land she spent her days working to uphold.

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“We don’t know what motivated this terrible and senseless act of violence, but we know the cost:

“A young, bright woman’s hopes will never be realised.

“Her family and friends’ lives forever altered.

“And more and more women feeling less safe as they go about their daily lives.

“Zara’s loss is a tragedy in every sense.”