A criminology student who asked his course lecturer how to get away with murder before stabbing a woman to death and knifing her friend in a random attack on Bournemouth beach has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 39 years.
Nasen Saadi, 21, killed Amie Gray, 34, and seriously wounded Leanne Miles, now 39, as the pair were enjoying a late-night chat next to a small fire to keep warm at the Dorset seaside resort in summer.
The 21-year-old fatally stabbed the personal trainer 10 times, including to her heart, and knifed her Ms Miles 20 times on 24 May last year, with Ms Gray’s “courageous final act” being to protect her friend.
Amie Gray with her wife Sian who said she ‘touched the lives of so many’ (PA Media)
The defendant had researched locations to carry out the killing and was “fascinated” with knives, buying six blades from websites, with several found at his aunt’s house where he was living as well as at his parents’ home.
Saadi, of Croydon, south London, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 39 years at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, after being convicted of murder and attempted murder in December following a trial at the same court. He was also sentenced for failing to give his mobile phone pin code to police.
Nasen Saadi, 21, fatally stabbed the personal trainer 10 times, including to her heart, and knifed her friend 20 times on 24 May last year (Dorset Police/PA Wire)
Judge Mrs Justice Cutts said that Saadi had chosen to deny his guilt because he wanted the “notoriety of a trial” and had a “complete lack of remorse”, adding: “It seems you have felt humiliated and rejected for any advances you have made towards girls, which has led over time to a deeply-suppressed rage towards society and women in particular.”
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Gray’s wife Sian Gray said that her wife’s death would “haunt” her forever. She said: “At the age of 36, I should not have to hold my deceased wife’s cold hand, nor should my daughter have to say goodbye and grieve over a coffin… Amie’s beautiful life has now been reduced to forever being remembered as ‘the Murder Victim’.”
Ms Gray’s mother Sharon Macklin said in a statement: “Amie was an amazing, funny, kind and energetic soul. She had a big smile and a loud laugh and when she entered the room it filled with laughter and her presence couldn’t be ignored. She was beautiful inside and out, even if life wasn’t great for her she would always find the time to help others.”
The trial heard that Saadi, who had been studying criminology and criminal psychology at the University of Greenwich, used the name “Ninja Killer” for his Snapchat account and also used the username “NSkills” on his computer.
Saadi, who had dropped out of a physical education course, had carried out searches about the Milly Dowler and Brianna Ghey killings.
CCTV footage of Saadi walking along the promenade on Bournemouth seafront, where Amie Gray and Leanne Miles were sitting, on the night of 24 May (PA Media)
The court was told Saadi had booked two hotels for a four-night stay in Bournemouth starting 21 May and was shown on CCTV carrying out “reccies” of the seafront and the scene of the murder, which happened at about 11.40pm on 24 May.
During his stay, the defendant, who is a fan of horror movies, also went to the cinema to see “slasher” movie The Strangers – Chapter 1.
Saadi, who chose not to give evidence, denied carrying out the attacks, saying it was a case of mistaken identity and adding that he must have “blacked out” when they happened.
His trial was told Ms Gray had tried to distract Saadi while he was attacking Ms Miles, shouting “get away”, allowing her friend to flee.
Benjamin May, a Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Wessex, said: “Amie’s courageous final act to protect her friend truly defines who she was, and her life will forever be remembered for the love and protection she gave to her loved ones.
CCTV of Saadi, who had been studying criminology and criminal psychology at the University of Greenwich (PA Media)
“Our thoughts continue to remain with her friends and family, as well as with Leanne Miles, whose bravery through this ordeal helped us to deliver justice.
“Saadi’s perverse fascination with murder and violence morphed into vile, real-world consequences, for which he has faced justice.”
Dorset Police Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins added: “We were able to show how carefully the defendant planned his attack, intending to kill, choosing Bournemouth – somewhere he had never been before – as the location seemingly purely because it had a sandy beach and how he travelled down several days before with the intention of committing this horrific act.
“It appears that he targeted Amie and Leanne, who he had never met and were simply enjoying a peaceful evening on the beach, just because he saw an opportunity to surprise and overpower them.”
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