How bloody footprint snared killer 30 years after he knifed woman over 140 times at her home as he’s convicted of murder
A BLOODY footprint helped snare a killer 30 years after he knifed a woman to death in her home.
Sandip Patel, 51, was today convicted of murdering Marina Koppell, 39 at her London home on August 8, 1994.
The killer had gone undetected for three decades until a bloody print found on a skirting board finally exposed him.
Thanks to advances in technology, police were able to match his DNA to the evidence and he was charged with murder.
Officers also discovered his DNA on a hair found nestled on a gold ring mum-of-two Marina was wearing at the time.
The killer, who worked at his dad's convenience store 'Sherlock Holmes News' in nearby Baker Street at the time of the murder, is now facing a life sentence.
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Jurors heard previously how Marina was subjected to a "brutal" slaughter at the home she rented for her sex work.
Although her husband David did not "necessarily approve" of her work, he "accepted it".
On the night she was killed, he had driven to the capital from his home in Northampton after Marina failed to answer his calls.
David, who died in 2005 without ever finding his wife's killer, discovered Marina in a bedroom with multiple stab wounds.
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A plastic bag was also found at the scene that contained Patel's fingerprints.
But because the killer's dad ran a nearby shop, the evidence was deemed not strong enough as Marina could have taken a bag from him.
In 2008, a breakthrough came when a scientist discovered the hair on the ring - although DNA advances were not strong enough at the time to be able to find a match.
It was only in 2022 that officers were able to link both the jewellery and the bloody footprint to Patel.
The killer has now been remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on Friday.
Marina's family pay tribute to 'charismatic' mum
“Marina Koppel, our sister-in-law, was an extremely bright, highly intelligent and charismatic person, who saw good in her family and all people she met.
“She wanted to give them everything they needed, especially her two children and nephew who grew up in Colombia.
“Her family and friends would have been in a much better place because of her abundance of energy for life had she not died.
“Marina was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a loving aunt, a daughter-in-law and a sister-in-law who was much loved by all of us as she loved all of us.
"Had Marina lived, all of the lives of her family and friends would have been enriched and further evolved. We have all suffered these many, many years because we lost Marina so early in life”.
Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin, Head of the Specialist Casework team for Central Specialist Crime said: “We are so pleased that finally Marina’s killer has been brought to justice. It is extremely sad that her husband did not live to see this day.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with Marina’s family and friends and we hope that today’s verdict will bring some closure for them.
“Even though Patel has been convicted for the brutal murder of Marina, we may never know the reasons for his actions on that day.
"Unsolved murder cases are never closed and it is due to the developments of forensic techniques we have been able to identify the suspect for this barbaric crime.”
