WORLD / EUROPE
UK delivery driver in court charged with murder case
Published: Sep 28, 2021 08:38 PM
Security stops anti-Brexit activist Steve Bray approaching Britain's main opposition Labor Party leader Keir Starmer (unseen) as he walks along the seafront to attend an interview, on the second day of the annual Labor Party conference in Brighton, southern England on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Security stops anti-Brexit activist Steve Bray approaching Britain's main opposition Labor Party leader Keir Starmer (unseen) as he walks along the seafront to attend an interview, on the second day of the annual Labor Party conference in Brighton, southern England on Sunday. Photo: AFP



A 36-year-old delivery driver appeared in court in Britain on Tuesday, charged with the murder of a young primary school teacher whose death sparked renewed calls to improve women's safety.

Sabina Nessa's death, like that of 33-year-old Sarah Everard in March, put pressure on the government to do more to protect women and girls in public spaces.

Koci Selamaj, who is of Albanian origin, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the killing of Nessa, 28, and charged on Monday evening.

Nessa's body was found in southeast London on September 18. She disappeared after walking through a park to meet a friend the previous day.

Selamaj appeared in court in northwest London and followed proceedings via an Albanian interpreter.

His lawyer indicated he would plead not guilty. The case was adjourned and Selamaj was remanded in custody until another hearing at the Central Criminal Court Thursday.

Hundreds of people attended a vigil in memory of Nessa last Friday, as her death prompted fresh calls to protect women in Britain.

Everard was killed as she was walking home in south London in March. A former Metropolitan Police officer has since admitted her kidnap, rape and murder. 

He is due to be sentenced this week.

Nessa's death has fueled concerns that women are not safe on the streets of the UK's capital.

The Everard case once shocked the country in March, with saw thousands going streets.

Jebina Yasmin Islam, Nessa's sister, broke down as she addressed crowds.

"Words cannot describe how we are feeling, this feels like we are stuck in a bad dream and can't get out of it - our world is shattered, we are simply lost for words," she said. "No family should go through what we are going through."

AFP