Zara Aleena killer 'can't be bothered' with court

Jordan McSweeney is serving a minimum of 33 years in prison for murder

A man who murdered a woman as she walked home in east London has refused to appear in court for a hearing over an alleged “inappropriate relationship” with a prison workshop instructor.

Jordan McSweeney failed to appear via video link at Woolwich Crown Court because he “can’t be bothered”, staff at HMP Long Lartin said.

The 31-year-old was due to attend alongside Hayley Jones, 33, who has been charged with acting in a way “which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust”.

McSweeney also refused to attend court when he was given a life sentence for the murder and sexual assault of Zara Aleena, a 35-year-old law graduate from Ilford.

Hayley Jones leaving Wimbledon Magistrates' Court in August

'Is that a quote?'

On Wednesday, McSweeney was due to appear for a plea and case management hearing.

At the hearing, a member of prison staff told Judge David Miller via video link: “I despatched an officer at 13:30 to collect him from his prison cell.

“At 13:40 I got a message saying he had refused to attend because he can’t be bothered”.

Judge Miller asked the member of staff, “Is that a quote?”, to which they responded, “Yes”.

The judge added: “If he continues to refuse to engage with proceedings then proceedings will go ahead in his absence.

“He must be reminded about the consequences of not being bothered to engage next time.”

The prison staff member told the court McSweeney had also refused to sign failure-to-attend documents.

McSweeney refused to leave his cell at Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire

McSweeney and Ms Jones have been accused of having an inappropriate relationship at HMP Belmarsh.

Ms Jones, of Strood in Kent, who appeared in person, is accused of misconduct in public office between March 2023 and April 2023.

McSweeney has been charged with encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence.

No pleas to the charges were entered and the case has been adjourned until 31 October.