Zara Aleena

[JoyBeorge]

Unless I've missed it, this sentencing seemed to pass without even a mention on here. AIBU to wonder why this Man was even on the streets, freed from prison just a week before he committed such an unthinkable heinous crime against a lone female?

news.sky.com/story/zara-aleena-serial-offender-sentenced-to-minimum-of-38-years-for-brutal-murder-of-law-graduate-as-she-walked-home-12767756

AIBU to wonder why this Man was even on the streets, freed from prison

Because he'd served his sentence for the previous crimes, which were not as severe. Surely this is obvious? He might have been a bastard but we don't lock people up for life for burglary or assault therefore the logical conclusion is that at some point he would have been out.

I'm guessing you've not read too much about his background. Women were never going to be safe. Ever.

I have read his background. There is nothing in there that would have resulted in him being locked up for life. Ergo....

There is plenty in there that could have predicted his dangerous attitudes toward women.

Unfortunately you can't lock people up for what they might do

Yes, but you can't lock people up for life on the basis that they might do something.

He had already been recalled the prison when he killed Zara. Unfortunately the police couldn't find him as he wasn't at the address he was supposed to beiving at.

So incredibly sad. I read that he was recalled for breaching license but the police couldn't find him? RIP Zara.

Maybe read up a bit before commenting? He was out on licence having been released early for his previous conviction for robbery, and had been recalled for breach of licence conditions. www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/R-v-Jordan-McSweeney-141222.pdf

There are serious questions to answer about the parole board decision.

I just think with his history with women there were so many red flags the authorities missed in reform opportunities. I agree with her aunt that there is a gap in the relationship between the community and police. He harassed, groped and terrified 4 different girls that night before the murder and the police received no reports of those incidents. Surely that is indicative of people knowing that it's a waste of time reporting it because the police won't do anything if you report being followed home anyway. It has to start with zero tolerance or any harassment of women full stop.

When he was released on licence (ie part way through his sentence for his previous crime) the parole board will have made an assessment of the likelihood of his offending again. There is no automatic entitlement to early release- the parole board needs to be satisfied that there is no risk of reoffending that may cause serious harm (so whether he "might do something" is extremely relevant).

Obviously in this case the decision taken was badly wrong, given that he committed murder within 9 days of release.

One good thing is that, from about a week ago, parole hearings are being held in public, so accountability and transparency should increase, and hopefully good decision-making as well. There's a lot of concern that boards are under pressure to release to reduce prison overcrowding.

He was on a determinate sentence which means he is automatically released halfway in, the parole board would not have been involved in this sentence

Far too many men are given a chance without any real rehabilitation work

where was the follow up work from his release where was the work with him in prison

and this is the result and this will happen time and time again multiple convictions for assault leading to more violence

woman’s lives are not valued as much as mens male violence is acceptable and this is the tragic consequences

He really was scary. Seeing that footage of him following all these women, and with such determination. Awful.

You cannot undertake “follow up work” with people who fail to attend Probation appointments. This is why he was swiftly recalled to custody.

yes there can be support when prisoners leave prison

there isn’t anywhere near enough and woefully inadequate probation service

recalled to custody that’s a joke no they are not in anywhere near enough circumstances

He was found living in a fairground caravan, makes you wonder how many criminals are hiding there as well.

RIP Zara

Actually, there is a lot of support that can be put in place - but if people fail to comply, the only option is to recall them to custody. Can you explain why you think recall to custody is a “joke”?

On that note, what else would you like Probation to do other than recall someone to custody if they fail to attend/breach their licence?

Incredibly sad. What a waste of oxygen he is.

I hope he rots. Should never have been allowed to happen to that beautiful lady.

I really agree with this

I may be wrong, but I have not read anything about previous convictions that specifically relate to women?

Did you not read the report

It mentions his time in prison....details his adjudications

What do you expect here?

Some of the posters on here are rightfully upset and angry about this. Unfortunately they lack knowledge of the systems and processes they talk about and are trying to blame the wrong people for this man’s abominable crimes.

From the sentencing

*Secondly, although he has no previous convictions for sexual offences or crimes of serious violence, the prosecution relies on records of his previous aggressive behaviour as an aggravating feature. The evidence is of four specific incidents since 2009 and a large number of incidents of aggression in prison. I ignore the earliest incident referred to by the prosecution.

In 2010 his partner alleged domestic violence. She told the police that he had assaulted her, pushed her down the steps, pulled her hair and strangled her. She bore visible injuries. He was arrested and gave an account to the police largely in line with what she had said but he excused himself because she had been “going on” and, as a result, he lost his temper.

Between May 2018 and June 2019 he abused another woman with whom he was in a relationship, soon after it began. He would slap her, punch her, beat her up, kick her in the ribs and drag her along the road*

I would say the only reason he doesn't have previous convictions for aggression towards women is because of the rubbish response by the police and the justice system to aggression towards women and domestic violence generally.

It's hardly a suprise looking at his history that he has escalated to murder. On top of his history of domestic violence there were numerous violent incidents when he was in prison.

His crime in 2010...strangulation for a first offence (assuming the 2009 offence was juvenile)

Isn't there an alert index or something if a first crime is strangulation?