Wednesday 6 July 2022 11:48 AM Aspiring lawyer Zara Aleena, 35, died from head and neck injuries, inquest hears trends now
Aspiring lawyer Zara Aleena, who was killed on the streets of east London last month, died from head and neck injuries, a coroner's court heard.
The 35-year-old was attacked by an 'opportunistic stranger' in the early hours of June 26 as she walked home from a night out along Cranbrook Road in Redbridge, Ilford.
A post-mortem examination has now confirmed the cause of her death as blunt force trauma injury and neck compression.
Suspect Jordan McSweeney, 29, was arrested and charged over her murder - and he appeared at the Old Bailey last week.
He is accused of murder, attempted rape and robbery, and was remanded in custody until September 30.
East London Coroner Nadia Persaud was today told by coroner's officer Jean Smyth that Ms Aleena was admitted to the Royal London Hospital shortly before 4.45am with multiple injuries.
Miss Aleena (pictured) was attacked as she walked home from a night out along Cranbrook Road in Ilford, towards Gants Hill station, in the early hours of Sunday, June 26
Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Jordan McSweeney appearing by video link from HMP Thameside during a hearing at the Old Bailey, London
Zara Aleena, 35, died from severe head injuries after she was attacked on her way back from a night out in the early hours of Sunday morning
The family of Zara Aleena, who was killed while walking home in east London in the early hours of Sunday morning, released a statement today after a man was arrested over her death.
They wrote: 'Zara, 35, a beloved human, child, niece, cousin, granddaughter, friend to all, she was a joy to all of us. She was a carer for her mother, and her grandmother.
'Caring for others came so naturally to her. Zara was friendly, she was everybody's friend. She was everybody's daughter, everybody's niece, everybody's sister, everybody's cousin. She was pure of heart.
'She was a joy to all of us, her sparkling eyes and the curly, jet-black hair. Her glorious laughter and her sweet, smiling voice. Her tiny frame embodied a passionate spirit and indomitable energy.
'Zara was brought up by the whole of our family. She was our love in human form. At the age of 5 she said she was going to be a lawyer. Shrieking with joy when she spotted the birds as a child - she would giggle and make us laugh. She was always the bigger person in any situation.
'She was authentic and refused to try and impress anyone but she impressed us. She was the rock of our family. Zara was stoic and held it all together and never complained. She glued our community together. 'Nobody worked harder than Zara' is what we heard from all who knew her. Zara was happy and at a point in her life when her joy was radiating and blossoming.
'She was ready to make a family of her own. Her sense of justice and fairness led her to a life of giving and caring for others – supporting refugees fleeing violence, giving voice to those who had less power. She had that special habit of noticing others in need and always put their needs on her agenda. A carefree spirit, with the most caring heart.
'Zara was happy and at a point in her life that she had worked hard for, she had completed her Legal Practice Course so that she could practise as a solicitor. She only recently started working for the Crown Prosecution Service, to complete her 2-year work placement in order to become a fully qualified solicitor. She was fierce: she didn't just survive, she thrived.
'She walked everywhere. She put her party shoes in a bag and donned her trainers. She walked. Zara believed that a woman should be able to walk home. Now, her dreams of a family are shattered, her future brutally taken.
'Sadly, Zara is not the only one who has had her life taken at the hands of a stranger. We all know women should be safe on our streets. She was in the heart of her community, ten minutes from home.
'We all need to be talking about what happened to OUR ZARA, we all need to be talking about this tragedy.
'These last few days have been shocking and unimaginable.
'In a savage, sickening, act she was murdered by a stranger. She's not the only woman who has lost her life like this. In the moment of this tragedy, we extend our deepest sympathy and love to the families of Bibaa Henry; Nicole Smallman; Sarah Everard; Sabina Nessa; Ashling
