Murdered Zara Aleena’s family reveal she believed every women should be able to walk home alone without fear
THE family of murdered Zara Aleena have said she believed every woman should be able to walk home alone without fear.
Zara, 35, suffered massive head injuries after being ambushed from behind in the early hours of Sunday.
She was walking home alone to her mother’s in Ilford, East London, after a night out. Her handbag, keys and mobile phone were stolen in the suspected sex attack.
Yesterday flowers were left at the scene. And in an emotional tribute, her family said: “She walked everywhere. She put her party shoes in a bag and donned her trainers. She walked.
“Zara believed that a woman should be able to walk home.”
They also said Zara dreamed of having children, adding: “Now, her dreams of a family are shattered, her future brutally taken.”
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And Zara’s family extended their “deepest sympathy and love” to the families of stranger attack victims Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Ashling Murphy “and many more women”.
They said: “Sadly, Zara is not the only one who has had her life taken at the hands of a stranger.
“We all know women should be safe on our streets. She was in the heart of her community, ten minutes from home. We all need to be talking about what happened to our Zara, we all need to be talking about this tragedy.
“These last few days have been shocking and unimaginable. In a savage, sickening act she was murdered by a stranger. She’s not the only woman who has lost her life like this.
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“We must prevent and stop violence against women and girls.
“Our loss is irreparable and the void feels insurmountable but the warmth and kindness that our community has shown is testament to the power of Zara’s spirit.
“Her life has been stolen from us. She has been stolen from us all. Rest in power Zara Natasha Aleena.”
Law graduate Zara had just started working for the Royal Courts of Justice. Her family called her “a carefree spirit with the most caring heart”.
They added: “She was everybody’s daughter, everybody’s niece, everybody’s sister, everybody’s cousin. She was pure of heart.
“She was a joy to all of us, her sparkling eyes and the curly, jet-black hair. Her glorious laughter and her sweet, smiling voice. Her tiny frame embodied a passionate spirit and indomitable energy.
“Zara was brought up by the whole of our family. She was our love in human form.”
Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “The words from Zara’s family say it all – she is far from the only woman to lose her life like this.
"Women are killed, week in week out, by men in the UK – three a fortnight from current or former partners alone, and even more at the hands of other men.
"Women should be safe whether inside or outside the home.
"We need to take violence against women seriously across society, and take action before more lives are lost."
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Jordan McSweeney, 29, of Dagenham, East London, appeared at Thames magistrates’ court yesterday charged with Zara’s murder, attempted rape and robbery.
He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address and was remanded to appear at the Old Bailey on July 27.
