‘Murdered’ Zara Aleena, 35, died from head & neck injuries after being ‘ambushed by killer’ while walking home
TRAGIC Zara Aleena died from head and neck injuries after she was attacked while walking home from a night out, an inquest has heard.
The law graduate, 35, was minutes from her house in Ilford, East London, when she was allegedly dragged into a driveway and beaten to death.
Jordan McSweeney, 29, has been charged with murder, attempted rape and robbery.
An inquest heard today how Zara was rushed to hospital in the early hours of June 26 with multiple injuries.
Sadly her condition deteriorated and she was declared dead a short time later.
A post-mortem gave Zara's cause of death as blunt force trauma injury and neck compression.
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The hearing was told her aunt Farah Naz had to identify her body following the horror.
East London Coroner Nadia Persaud adjourned the inquest pending criminal proceedings.
Zara's death sparked outrage following the stranger murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard in London as they walked home.
Hundreds gathered for a vigil at the weekend to highlight the ongoing plague of male violence against women.
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Supporters walked the ten minute route from where she was attacked to her home "to bring her back where she belonged safely".
Zara's family also paid tribute to her in a heartbreaking statement following her death.
They also revealed she had wanted to be a lawyer from the age of five and that she "put her party shoes in her bag" and "walked everywhere" because "she believed that a woman should be able to walk home".
Her family added: "Zara, 35, a beloved human, child, niece, cousin, granddaughter, friend to all, she was a joy to all of us.
"She was a carer for her mother, and her grandmother. Caring for others came so naturally to her.
"Zara was friendly, she was everybody's friend. She was everybody's daughter, everybody's niece, everybody's sister, everybody's cousin. She was pure of heart.
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"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."
McSweeney will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 30 for a plea hearing.
