The man who killed 35-year-old law graduate Zara Aleena in east London last June has been sentenced at the Old Bailey to life in prison
Jordan McSweeney, who did not know Aleena, has admitted to murdering and sexually assaulting her as she walked home from a night out
A judge gave McSweeney a minimum term of 38 years, calling him a "pugnacious and deeply violent man"
Speaking outside the court afterwards, Aleena's aunt said the family had seen "some retribution", but had "no peace"
Earlier, Aleena's grandmother sobbed as she told the court she felt "completely broken" by the death of her first grandchild
McSweeney refused to enter the courtroom for the sentencing, which the judge said showed he had "no spine"
The court heard that McSweeney followed several other women on the same night, who all evaded him, before he attacked Aleena
We're bringing our live coverage of the sentencing of Zara Aleena's killer, Jordan McSweeney, to a close, thank you for joining us.
You can read more here:
The page was written by Thomas Mackintosh and Helena Wilkinson reporting from the Old Bailey, plus Antoinette Radford, James FitzGerald, Oliver Slow, Adam Durbin, Alys Davies and Samuel Horti.
It was edited by Sarah Fowler, Heather Sharp and James FitzGerald.
Image source, PA MediaWe’re ending our live coverage soon, but here’s a recap of events at the Old Bailey today, where Jordan McSweeney was jailed for at least 38 years for the “brutal, sexually motivated” murder of Zara Aleena in east London last summer.
In a televised sentencing, Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said the killer was “wholly aware” of what he was doing when he attacked Aleena, and said he had “no spine whatsover” for failing to appear in court to be sentenced today.
McSweeney’s defence barrister George Carter-Stephenson KC earlier told the court his client refused to be in the dock because he did not “want to relive” what happened that night.
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow KC told the court how McSweeney had prowled the streets of Ilford the same night he killed Aleena, and attendees at the court were shown CCTV footage of him following multiple women, as well as of the brutal attack on Aleena.
Zara Aleena’s grandmother Rashida Parveen sobbed as she gave a victim impact statement to the court, saying she felt “completely broken” by the death of her first grandchild and hoped the killer "would never find peace".
Aleena’s aunt Farah Naz said the family had some retribution in the killer’s sentencing, but no peace after her killing and that every day “we live with the horror that she faced”.
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellems of the Met police, who also attended the hearing, said the lengthy sentence “reflected the seriousness of the crime”.
Zara Aleena's aunt, Farah Naz, delivered an emotional tribute outside court following the sentencing of her niece's killer, Jordan McSweeney.
She described her Zara as "the light, the warmth, the birdsong, the laughter in our family".
We're getting some more reaction to the sentencing - this time from charity Women's Aid, which has called for "urgent structural change to make the world a safer place for women and girls".
Its chief executive Farah Nazeer said she was relieved that Jordan McSweeney had been jailed for life, but acknowledged that "no sentence will make up for [Zara Aleena's] murder, let alone the utter devastation, grief and loss suffered by Zara’s family and friends."
She said that "we cannot continue in a world where so many women’s lives are lost to male violence", adding that sexism, misogyny and discrimination were "at the root of all violence against women".
Everybody must play a part in societal change so that women can feel safe "both on the streets and in their own homes", she added.
Image source, Family Handout / PA WireThe family of Zara Aleena have released some photographs of her, via the Metropolitan Police.
After the sentencing, her aunt Farah Naz told the PA News agency the family "don't want her last hours, her end, to define her".
Quote MessageZara means literally radiance and she was the heart of us. The heart of our family and the heart of her community, the heart of her friends, and that's how we remember her. That's what's been taken, the heart of us.
Image source, Family HandoutSpeaking in court, her grandmother Rashda Parveen sobbed as she read out her victim statement, saying she hoped the killer "would never find peace".
She added she felt "completely broken" by the death of her first grandchild.
Image source, Family handoutSpeaking about Zara Aleena's mother, the judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, told the court the death of her child had broken her.
"Zara’s absence is being felt constantly by the entire family... the light has gone out from their lives".
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb delivered her sentence despite the absence of Jordan McSweeney, who refused to come to court today.
We've also just heard from Sam Tarry, the MP for Ilford South where the killing took place, who said Zara Aleena’s name will “live on”.
“This shouldn’t have happened and there will be questions that need to be asked about McSweeney and why he was still on the streets of Ilford,” he said.
He said he would be supporting Mayor Sadiq Khan to ensure the government took the safety of women seriously.
Mr Tarry said the streets of London should be safe.
"This is Britain in the 21st century. This is not acceptable."
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan delivers some remarks of his own outside the Old Bailey.
He offers his "deepest sympathies" to Zara Aleena's family, following a "terrible and senseless act of violence".
Khan says his city has been "deprived of a talented and dedicated public servant" - citing her legal training.
He says he's "acutely aware" of the "epidemic of violence against women and girls" - and says a man kills a woman in the UK every three days.
As mayor, he pledges to break a "sickening cycle" of violence.
Farah Naz, Zara Aleena's aunt, has just spoken to reporters outside court.
She says the sentencing protects the public from a man who "cannot and must not live freely in the world".
Naz adds McSweeney's "extreme indifference" to Zara's life and the law makes him a "very dangerous man".
She says the family have some retribution in his sentencing, but no peace after her killing, adding that there are lessons to be learned now.
"And today, like every day, we live with the horror that she faced.
"We are deeply touched by the kindness we have felt from so many and this is testament to the power of Zara's spirit, thank you," she concludes, through tears.
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams of the Met police has been speaking outside the court. He described McSweeney as “a sexual predator”, “loner” and having a “single determination” to stalk women.
He said the sentence “reflected the seriousness of the crime” and added that his thoughts were with the family.
“Nothing can be done to bring Zara back," he added.
If you're just joining us, Jordan McSweeney has been jailed for life for the "brutal, sexually motived" murder Zara Aleena in east London last summer, with a minimum term of 38 years set by the judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.
Here's a quick summary of her sentencing remarks:
Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey
As I left the courtroom I bumped into the lead Met Police detective in the case.
Det Ch Insp Dave Whellams told me he was very happy with the sentence and he'll be making a further statement shortly outside the Old Bailey.
Leaving the court, we are immediately greeted by placards showing Aleena's face.
"Never forgotten," is written below her name.
Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey
Throughout today's sentencing hearing we have been told about the multiple women Jordan McSweeney followed in the hours before he murdered Zara Aleena.
We can now show you some of that footage which has been released by the Met Police.
The women have never been identified, so to protect their identities their faces have been blurred.
We also have a clip of McSweeney's arrest as officers moved swiftly to detain him after he was identified as the prime suspect to Zara Aleena's murder.
Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey
It's a very hefty sentence indeed - life is mandatory for murder but it is the minimum term which has to be fixed.
The judge hinted that the starting point if he hadn't pleaded guilty would have been a minimum of 43 years in prison.
She didn't hold back either in her remarks - labelling Jordan McSweeney as pugnacious and spineless while also drawing on his lack of remorse and his no-show in court today.
I've covered hundreds of murder sentencings and this is one of the steepest I've come across.
There was little reaction from Zara Aleena's family and of course there was no defendant to be taken down to the dock.
News will filter through to McSweeney that he will not be allowed to leave prison until 2060 at the earliest.
Image source, Old BaileyMrs Justice Cheema-Grubb concluded her remarks by saying the sentence "for the brutal, sexually motivated murder of Zara Aleena is imprisonment for life", and the defendant will serve 38 years as the minimum term.
Before passing her sentence, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said McSweeney's non-engagement "frustrated the work being done on his behalf" by his defence team over whether he was fit to plead or face trial.
The judge noted his "belligerent attitude when requested to come to court", once telling prison officers there was "no point in doing so".
Jordan McSweeney has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting Zara Aleena.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb has ordered the 29-year-old must serve at least 38 years in prison.
She says there was a “significant degree of premeditation” because he wandered around the local area until he "found the ideal circumstances to commit the offence”.
This was a “particularly violent sexual assault” conducted at night, in a public place, and on a woman who was out alone.
The judge says McSweeney will receive no mitigation beyond his guilty plea, as he has "expressed no remorse".
She adds that he has also made "no expression of sorrow for the impact on anyone else" of his killing.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said McSweeney bears “full responsibility for his actions”.
She said she does not believe that mental health issues that McSweeney “undoubtedly has” reduce his culpability over the attack.