Sabina Nessa: A teacher who was ‘absolutely dedicated to her pupils’ and an ‘inspiration’ to her family
Sabina Nessa was murdered while doing something perfectly normal – walking to a local pub to meet a friend at the end of the working week.
The 28-year-old teacher was attacked as she made her way across Cator Park in Kidbrooke, southeast London, last Friday.
Police arrested a 38-year-old man in relation to her murder on Thursday and have since released him under investigation.
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The family of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa have said they are ‘shattered’ by her death.
Ms Nessa had two sisters, one of them tweeting that “no mother or father should have to go through this”.
The sibling added: “My beautiful, talented and caring sister – my inspiration to always put myself first and never let anybody put me down.”
Speaking at a vigil held in her memory on Friday, Ms Nessa’s other sister Jebina Yasmin Islam said: “We have lost an amazing, caring, beautiful sister, who left this world far too early.”
Ms Nessa’s headteacher at Rushey Green Primary School in Lewisham, Lisa Williams, said her death was “desperately sad”.
Ms Williams added: “We are devastated by Sabina’s tragic death. She was a brilliant teacher; she was kind, caring and absolutely dedicated to her pupils.
The Depot bar in Pegler Square, Kidbrooke Village where Sabina Nessa was due to meet a friend on Friday
“She had so much life ahead of her and so much more to give and her loss is desperately sad.
“As a school we are supporting each other through this very difficult time.”
As well as being a teacher, Sabina was family orientated and an animal lover with two pet cats, her cousin has said.
Ms Nessa’s uncle, Shahin Miah, described his niece as “a kind and open-minded person”, who was “always smiling and helping others”.
Tributes were left for Sabina at a vigil in her memory on Friday
Halima Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust race equality think-tank, said Ms Nessa was “a beautiful, intelligent young woman who had so much life to live”.
Ms Begum, whose family knew Ms Nessa, said: “Speaking as a woman and a Londoner from the city’s Bangladeshi community, I’m heartbroken.
“Sabina is related to members of my extended family and everything I know about her speaks of a beautiful, intelligent young woman who had so much life to live, and so, so much to offer in terms of making a positive difference to the people’s lives she touched, not least her family’s and the young children she taught at school.”
Weather warnings are in place for snow, wind and rain across much of the UK on New Year’s Day.
The start of 2025 will bring a “multi-hazard storm, combining severe gales, heavy rain and possibly significant snow as the rain runs into cold air,” said Sky News meteorologist Christopher England.
Pic: Met Office
The most significant snowfall on New Year’s Day will be from Donegal, across Northern Ireland and into the north of England and south of Scotland.
The wind looks strongest in the south, Mr England added, where 60mph winds are possible inland and 80mph gusts around the coasts of the Irish Sea.
The stormy weather continues on 2 January, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings across England, Wales and parts of Scotland.
The UK has faced widespread disruption over the last few days, as thick fog descended.
Tens of thousands of passengers had flights delayed or cancelled, while drivers were warned about dangerous conditions with poor visibility.
Revellers are also set for a “wet and rather windy” New Year’s Eve, with the potential for a snowy Hogmanay in Scotland.
There could be some “possibly disruptive weather” on 31 December, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said, with Scotland likely to see the worst of it.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for winds of up to 70mph that may cause travel disruption on New Year’s Eve.
The alert, in place from 7am until 11pm on Tuesday, covers most of Northern Ireland as well as north of York in England up to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenock.
The forecaster also warned that delays to transport are likely, with gusts of up to 60mph expected in most areas.
Those affected should check road conditions for driving and the latest travel information as well as preparing for in advance for potential power cuts.
A pensioner who is refusing to leave what’s being branded Britain’s loneliest housing estate has told Sky News he is facing bullying and intimidation tactics to force him out.
Nick Wisniewski’s ex-council flat in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire is set to be demolished because the local authority wants to redevelop the area, which has become a derelict eyesore.
The vast area on the outskirts of Glasgow used to have almost 1,000 properties, but slowly the bulldozers have moved in, creating huge mounds of rubble where homes once stood.
The land is overgrown, with all remaining properties boarded up – apart from the retired bank worker’s home, which demolition teams have been unable to touch as he refuses to budge.
Nick Wisniewski claims he is being bullied to leave his home
Rubble where homes on the estate once stood
‘They’ll basically need to drag me out’
The 68-year-old, whose neighbours were all rehomed in 2023, bought the flat in 2017 under the discounted right-to-buy scheme and is now mortgage-free.
He told Sky News he rejected an initial offer from North Lanarkshire Council of £35,000 plus two year’s rent as it would not be enough to buy a new place.
Contemplating a time in the future when he is forced out, he said: “By law they can smash my door down, they can come in here, manhandle me to get me out. That’s the law, and they’ll basically need to drag me out.”
Asked if he is prepared to go to that length to stop himself being removed, he said: “I am hoping it doesn’t come to that, but if it does then so be it.”
He reveals a compulsory purchase order process is now under way.
A compulsory purchase order is the legal power given to a local council to buy a property without the owner’s consent.
The legal battle will now be resolved by the Scottish government in due course.
There used to be almost a thousand properties on the estate
He said: “It’s been all intimidation, bullying, lies. They offered me £40,000 over a year ago. I thought they’d have offered me a wee bit more. I would accept, probably, £60,000.
“They had a meeting a couple of weeks ago saying that they are starting legal, which means compulsory purchase order.
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“There’s so many stages to that and it’ll take a while for that to come in to force.”
North Lanarkshire Council told Sky News it “completely refutes” any allegations of bullying or intimidation.
A spokesman said: “We are continuing to try and engage with the remaining resident and our focus is on progressing our ambitious plans to transform this area of Gowkthrapple for the benefit of the local community.”
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