Sabina Nessa killing: Police continue to quiz suspect, 36

Sabina Nessa had been walking to meet a friend when she was attacked (Nessa Family/PA)
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Detectives investigating the murder of Sabina Nessa on Monday continued to question a 36-year-old man held in Eastbourne.

The man was arrested at 3am on Sunday on suspicion of the teacher’s murder in Kidbrooke, south-east London, and was being held in Met police custody.

It is understood that officers have until later on Monday to decide whether to charge him, release him on bail or apply for an extension to continue the questioning for a total of 96 hours. Scotland Yard would not confirm if the suspect was the man seen in CCTV footage issued last week, but it is understood investigators are no longer seeking him.

There were reports today that officers had tailed the man for several hours on Saturday before moving to arrest him at an address in Eastbourne.

Officers are also said to have seized a 14-year-old Nissan Micra in Eastbourne Old Town, which has been taken to a Met Police garage for examination.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Sabina’s family have been informed of this significant development and they continue to be supported by specialist officers.”

Ms Nessa, 28, a teacher at Rushey Green Primary in Catford, had left home in Kidbrooke at around 8,30pm on Friday September 17 to meet a friend in a bar in Pegler Square, Kidbrooke.

She did not arrive and her body was discovered hidden under leaves in Cator Park the following afternoon by a dog-walker.

Two men, aged 38 and 40, were arrested separately on suspicion of murder last week but were subsequently released under investigation.

On Friday, hundreds of mourners gathered for a candlelit vigil in memory of Ms Nessa. Her death has sparked fresh debate about women’s safety and led to renewed calls for action to reduce violence against women and girls.

Jebina Yasmin Islam, Ms Nessa’s sister, broke down as she addressed crowds. She said: “Words cannot describe how we are feeling. This feels like we are stuck in a bad dream and can’t get out of it — our world is shattered, we are simply lost for words. No family should go through what we are going through.”

The family visited Cator Park yesterday to view hundreds of tributes, including a bouquet left on behalf of the Duchess of Cambridge. Members of Ms Nessa’s family also spoke at a rally at East London Mosque, while a candle was lit outside Downing Street.

A post-mortem examination into the cause of Ms Nessa’s death was inconclusive.

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