Albanian national accused of murdering teacher Sabina Nessa faces court for the first time
Primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, 28, was beaten to death with ‘2ft long weapon’ in ‘premeditated and predatory attack’ as Albanian ex Domino’s delivery driver, 36, appears in court accused of her murder
Domino’s delivery driver Koci Selamaj, 36, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, was remanded in custody at HMP Wormwood ScrubsHe stands accused of murdering Sabina Nessa, 28, in ‘predatory’ park attackSelamaj is alleged to have loitered in Cator Park, Kidbrooke for half an hour Ms Nessa’s body was recovered under a pile of leaves a day after the attack
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An ex-Domino’s delivery driver accused of beating primary school teacher Sabina Nessa to death ‘in a premeditated and predatory attack’ was remanded in custody today.
Koci Selamaj, 36, is alleged to have loitered for half an hour in Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east London before murdering the 28-year-old woman a few minutes from her home.
Ms Nessa left her house on Astell Road after arranging to meet a friend at The Depot bar in Pegler Square, Kidbrooke Village, south-east London on September 17.
Her body was found by a member of the public almost 24 hours later near the OneSpace community centre, hidden under a pile of leaves.
It is claimed her attacker used a 2ft long weapon to strike her repeatedly before carrying her away unconscious.
Selamaj, who appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs wearing a green and yellow prison-issue jumpsuit, was remanded in custody after indicating a not guilty plea at an earlier hearing.
The Albanian national, from Eastbourne, Sussex, who heard proceedings through an interpreter, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
Koci Selamaj (left), from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was arrested in the seaside town in the early hours of Sunday. Sabina Nessa (right) was killed as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on her way to meet a friend on September 17
Sabina Nessa, 28, originally from Bedfordshire. Ms Nessa was killed as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, south-east London, on her way to meet a friend on September 17
Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC said: ‘The defendant is 36 as of this year and had no previous convictions.
‘He is an Albanian national. There is nothing to suggest the defendant and the deceased were known to each other.
‘The prosecution suggests this was a premeditated and predatory attack on a stranger.
‘At the time of these events, the defendant was living at a flat in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
‘He has legal status in this country. He was working at a garage in the Eastbourne area.
‘On the evening of 17 September, Sabina Nessa made plans to meet with a friend at a bar called The Depot in Kidbrooke Village.
‘In order to get to that location, she took a route through Cator Park in Kidbrooke Village.
‘She was attacked and killed in Cator Park. Some of her movements through the park and the attack on her were captured on CCTV footage.’
Remanding him in custody Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft, said: ‘The next hearing, in this case, will be on 16 December.’
The suspect is understood to have been working as a Domino’s delivery driver in Eastbourne and is thought to be originally from eastern Europe
Koci Selamaj, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was arrested in the seaside town in the early hours of Sunday (pictured: Police in Eastbourne on Sunday)
Ms Morgan continued: ‘Post-mortem examinations are ongoing.
‘The pathologist has indicated a number of likely causes of death, but those are ongoing as is the consideration of what else may have happened by way of attack to the deceased at that time.’
Ms Morgan added: ‘At the time of these events the defendant was living at an address in Eastbourne.
‘He has legal status in this country and he was working at a garage in the Eastbourne area.
