Nasen Saadi: Criminology student with ‘grievance against women’ jailed for murdering personal trainer on beach
A criminology student who murdered one woman and attempted to murder another on a beach in Bournemouth has been jailed for life, with a minimum term of 39 years.
Nasen Saadi, 21, from Croydon, fatally stabbed personal trainer Amie Gray, 34, 10 times as she sat beside a fire on Durley Chine Beach in Dorset on the evening of 24 May.
Her friend Leanne Miles, who was sitting next to her on the beach, suffered 20 knife injuries but survived the attack.
Saadi was found guilty of murder and attempted murder after a trial at Winchester Crown Court in December. On Friday, he was sentenced to life in prison.
In sentencing, the judge Mrs Justice Cutts, said Saadi had denied his guilt because he wanted the “notoriety of a trial” and had a “complete lack of remorse”.
Nasen Saadi. Pic: Dorset Police
She said: “The clear evidence is you planned to kill and went to Bournemouth to do so.
“I am satisfied that you chose Amie Gray and Leanne Miles because you have a grievance against society as a whole and women in particular.”
She added: “It seems you have felt humiliated and rejected for any advances you have made towards girls, which has led over time to a deeply suppressed rage towards society and women in particular.”
The judge said the attack was “utterly senseless” and added: “I have no doubt you are an extremely dangerous young man and will remain so.”
The trial previously heard how Saadi, who was studying criminology at Greenwich University in London, was asked by one of his lecturers: “You’re not planning a murder, are you?”
He had asked tutors questions about self-defence for murder and how long DNA stays behind.
Saadi, who had collected knives and researched locations to carry out the killing, told detectives he had an interest in true crime, unsolved cases, and horror movies.
The court heard he used the name “Ninja Killer” on his Snapchat account and also had the username “NSkills” on his computer.
Amie Gray (left) and her wife Sian. Pic: Handout/Dorset Police
During the trial, the jury was played CCTV footage the prosecution said showed Saadi walking along the beach promenade.
They also heard a CCTV audio recording of screaming and a male voice at around 11.39pm – the time of the attack.
Nasen Saadi walking along Durley Chine Beach in Bournemouth, and a map of the location
A recording of a 999 call made by Ms Miles was played to the court in which she was heard crying in pain.
The 39-year-old told the operator: “I have been stabbed loads of times. Oh my God, I am getting dizzy, please hurry up, please hurry up.”
She continues: “I am bleeding everywhere, I have been stabbed loads of times.”
CCTV still of Saadi. Pic: CPS
The defendant, who chose not to give evidence, admitted visiting Bournemouth but denied the offences.
He told police he might have “blacked out” and had no memory of the period that included the attacks.
Amie Gray. Pic: Handout/Dorset Police
In a police interview shown in court, Saadi said: “I am not responsible and I have no reason to attack someone for no reason.”
Saadi, who was wearing a blue sweatshirt and glasses, showed no emotion as the sentence was read out.
He pleaded guilty to failing to provide his mobile phone code to police.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mrs Gray’s wife, Sian Gray, said the death would “haunt” her forever.
She said: “At the age of 36, I should not have to hold my deceased wife’s cold hand, nor should my daughter have to say goodbye and grieve over a coffin.
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“Amie’s beautiful life has now been reduced to forever being remembered as ‘the murder victim’.”
Mrs Gray’s mother Sharon Macklin said in a statement her daughter was “an amazing, funny, kind and energetic soul. She had a big smile and a loud laugh, and when she entered the room, it filled with laughter, and her presence couldn’t be ignored.
“She was beautiful inside and out. Even if life wasn’t great for her, she would always find the time to help others.”
Two pro-Palestinian demonstrators have thrown red powder on Tower Bridge – just moments before leading runners in the London Marathon went past.
The protesters were arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and remain in custody, said the Metropolitan Police.
A video shared by Youth Demand, which is calling for a trade embargo on Israel, shows two people jumping over a barrier that separates spectators from the race course.
The pair, wearing t-shirts that say “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”, are then seen standing in the middle of the road on the bridge.
Pic: LNP
They throw red powder in the air as an official marathon car goes past displaying the race time.
A motorbike with a cameraman on board continues along the route, while a second motorbike stops and one of the riders gets off and pushes the pair out of the way, just before the men’s elite runners pass.
Several police officers then jump over the barrier and detain the pair, the footage shows.
There appeared to be no impact on the marathon.
More than 56,000 participants were expected to take part in the 26.2-mile race through the capital.
Sabastian Sawe of Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 27 seconds, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only world record in two hours, 15 minutes and 50 seconds.
Assefa beat the previous best of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds set last year in London by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir.
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Pic: LNP
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “At around 10.38am, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint on to the road.
“Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed.”
The force added that they were “quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance”.
The Met said the paint “appeared to be chalk-based” and was not expected to “present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point”.
Counter-terrorism police are investigating after an incident involving a crossbow and a firearm left two women injured in Leeds.
Police were called to Otley Road at 2.47pm on Saturday to reports of a “serious incident involving a man seen with weapons”, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers arrived at the scene to find two women injured – and a 38-year-old man with a self-inflicted injury. All three were taken to hospital, with the man held under arrest, but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
“Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, which were a crossbow and a firearm,” Counter Terrorism Policing North East said in a statement.
The incident happened on the ‘Otley Run’ pub crawl, with one venue saying it was closed for the evening due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
Officers guard one of the crime scenes
Officers inside the cordon in Leeds
Counter Terrorism Policing’s statement added: “Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing North East have taken responsibility for leading the investigation with the support of West Yorkshire Police.
“Extensive enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances and explore any potential motivation.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a “serious violent incident” and said she was being kept updated by police.
“Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response,” she said. “My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected by this attack.”
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