Shortly we'll be seeing and hearing the judge's sentencing remarks live from the Old Bailey after a recent law change allowed filming inside English and Welsh courts for the first time.

(Scotland has already been doing this for years.)

The thinking is that if the public could see the judiciary process, they could have more confidence in the system.

In England and Wales though, only four organisations can film: the BBC, ITN, Sky and PA Media, and they have to apply to the judge to film the sentencing remarks of a case.

Even then, they can only film the remarks made by the most senior judges.

No-one else can be filmed apart from them, so cameras won’t be allowed to film victims, witnesses or jurors.

So it is still early days for cameras in courts, but no doubt seeing rather than reading judges’ remarks on the news will become more and more commonplace going forward.

In recent months cases we’ve seen broadcasted sentencings at the Old Bailey include Jemma Mitchell who decapitated her friend Mee Kuen Chong and US citizen Anne Sacoolas who got an eight-month suspended sentence over the death of British teenager Harry Dunn.

Image source, Getty Images

Zara Aleena's murder heightens fears of women's safety in Londonpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 14 December 2022

15:40 GMT 14 December 2022

Sonja Jessup
BBC London's home affairs correspondent

Image source, PA Media

Zara Aleena’s murder has once again heightened fears among women in London over safety.

Her death brought many to the streets calling for more action to prevent male violence.

In the last two years, Aleena, Sabina Nessa, Sarah Everard and sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman have all been attacked in London by men who were complete strangers to them.

The Metropolitan Police says it has been targeting known perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual predators.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has focused on early intervention, including launching an educational toolkit for schools to teach about misogyny.

But both acknowledge there’s much more that needs to be done and Aleena's family tell me her death “has made campaigners of us all”.

Her family vow they will keep calling for change.

Helena Wilkinson
reporting from the Old Bailey

Defence barrister George Carter-Stephenson KC is now going to go down to the cells to see if McSweeney will come to court to be sentenced.

The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, said to Mr Carter Stephenson KC: "Please convey to him the court would like to see him and it's far better for him and for everyone else if he is here to hear my sentence".

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

George Carter-Stephenson finishes his mitigation by saying alcohol helped Jordan McSweeney escape his depression.

He has now ended his speech and we are waiting for the judge to direct what happens next.

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Continuing Jordan McSweeney's defence, George Carter-Stephenson KC says there was no planning involved on the night McSweeney was kicked out of the Wetherspoon's pub in Ilford.

There is no plan in Mr McSweeney's mind as he wanders about the streets that night.

"He is clearly looking for a female. He is seeking an opportunity.

"An opportunity to present itself."

The barrister says McSweeney's guilty plea has spared the court time adding that his client takes full responsibility for his actions

"He is truly sorry for what he has done," Mr Carter-Stephenson says before he is interrupted by the judge who asks for any evidence of his remorse.

Mr Carter-Stephenson says his client's "tears at the police station can carry remorse", and that remorse was demonstrated by his guilty plea.

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

George Carter-Stephenson KC says what happened to Zara Aleena "was spontaneous".

"Something out of anger. Panic. It was not premediated.

"He was not roaming the streets to sexually assault and kill," Mr Carter-Stephenson says.

"Some of that CCTV footage is difficult to interpret," he says, in reference to CCTV footage shown earlier.

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

When Jordan McSweeney was admitted to Belmarsh Prison, in south-east London, George Carter-Stephenson says the 29-year-old indicated that he could not comprehend what he had done.

Quoting a prison officer who had an exchange with McSweeney, the defence barrister said "he cannot understand what he did".

"He genuinely looked confused," he says.

"After police showed him CCTV he could not comprehend what he did."

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Turning to Jordan McSweeney's guilty plea, George Carter-Stephenson KC says he has been trying to come to terms with the murder he committed.

The barrister outlines: "He has no real memory of the events, post leaving the public house due to the amount of alcohol consumed and illicit substances.

"He had always intended to plead guilty to this."

Mr Carter-Stephenson says McSweeney was in tears while on the phone to his mum after being arrested.

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

George Carter-Stephenson KC says Jordan McSweeney suffers from ADHD, substance misuse and a personality disorder.

"All of which cause him problems," the defence barrister explains.

"These are not put forward as any kind of excuse, these are simply part of what he has to live with and cope with."

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Selling drugs was the way of life as Jordan McSweeney had seen it from his mother, Mr Carter-Stephenson continues.

He says: "As a result of dealing drugs he met many of the wrong kinds of people

"At the age of 13 or 14 he became involved in bare-knuckle fighting.

"He had a reputation and he found making friendships very hard to make."

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Social services only became involved when he was 15 years old when he was moved into care, George Carter-Stephenson says.

"He had never had the benefit of any parental help," the barrister continues, adding that Jordan McSweeney had no role model.

Mr Carter-Stephenson adds: "Domestic violence was something he grew up with as the norm.

"His mother had a number of partners when they were in Kent."

He ran away after going into care and was expelled from four schools, Mr Carter-Stephenson explains.

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Continuing his mitigation, George Carter-Stephenson KC gives some background on Jordan McSweeney.

"It is clearly important in context of this case," he begins.

Mr Carter-Stephenson says: "He was born in Dagenham.

"His childhood was far from ideal. His mother was a drug addict.

"He described her as spiteful, vindictive and a horribly poisonous person.

"She had little or no time for him when he was growing up.

"His first memory of his father is when he attempted to drown his mother in the bath."

Mr Carter-Stephenson also said McSweeney claims he was sexually abused as a child.

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow KC has finished the Crown Prosecution Service's case.

Defence barrister George Carter-Stephenson KC begins his mitigation.

"There is very little if anything which could be said on his behalf which could explain his actions on that night," he says.

"He has accepted his responsibility for it, that takes a degree of courage."

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Back to Oliver Glasgow KC who says the prosecution has identified various aggravating factors.

Mr Glasgow gives a list: "The planning and premeditation of the attack; the suffering inflicted on Zara Aleena; the location of the attack; Jordan McSweeney's previous convictions and the offence was committed while he was on licence."

Helena Wilkinson
reporting from the Old Bailey

Zara's grandmother is sobbing as she finishes reading her victim impact statement.

She is helped out of the witness box by her daughter, Farah Naz.

The court usher is taking over some water for her.

Helena Wilkinson
reporting from the Old Bailey

We are now hearing from Zara Aleena's grandmother, Rashda Parveen, who is in the witness box reading her victim impact statement.

She is struggling to speak through her tears and says she feels "completely broken".

Zara was her first grandchild, she said.

Zara's aunt Farah Naz is standing behind Zara's grandmother in the witness box, supporting her. Rashda Parveen is crying. She refers to her granddaughter as "my Zara".

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Farah Naz finishes her victim impact statement saying that the family has to "learn to live again".

She says: "We will campaign to tell Zara's story and to stop violence towards women.

"This is the only way forward."

She then helps her mother Rashda Parveen to the witness box so she can read her victim impact statement.

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

Zara Aleena's mother has become a prisoner at home and cannot bare coming here today, her sister Farah Naz says.

She adds: "Zara's teenage cousins are afraid of the world, afraid of strangers and have experienced panic for the first time.

"Everyday it is like pushing a rock the size of a planet

"We don't feel well, physically, emotionally.

"We try to meditate but we feel we have aged ten years in the last five months.

"Zara brought a zest to our lives.

"We are on our knees shuffling through a horror movie."

Helena Wilkinson
reporting from the Old Bailey

A victim impact statement is an important part of the criminal justice process.

They give those who've been affected by a crime a voice, allowing them to convey the impact of the crime, telling the person who committed it just what it has done to their lives.

But in this case McSweeney isn't listening to Zara's aunt Farah Naz as she tells of how their lives have been "destroyed".

He is down in the cells below, refusing to face his punishment.

Thomas Mackintosh
reporting from the Old Bailey

More from Farah Naz who says Zara Aleena lost her freedom which she valued.

"She was just walking home," Naz says "She has a strong sense of justice."

"If she were able to speak today she would say I didn't do anything wrong."

Naz says when the family found out about Aleena's murder they "froze in shock".

She adds: "We still struggle to believe this is all true.

"Our brains are still processing the senseless.

"The lights have gone out in our family home. My sister has lost her only child, her supporter and her carer."