A criminology student who carried out a brutal and premeditated knife attack on Bournemouth beach is set to be sentenced to life in prison on Friday.
Nasen Saadi, 21, from Croydon, south London, was found guilty in December at Winchester Crown Court of the murder of 34-year-old personal trainer Amie Gray and the attempted murder of her friend, Leanne Miles. The attack took place late at night on 24 May last year, while the two women were sitting by a small fire on the Dorset coastline.
Saadi, who had been studying criminology and criminal psychology at the University of Greenwich, had reportedly spent time researching murder and methods of evading capture. The court heard that he had even asked his lecturers questions about “how to get away with murder.”
A calculated and remorseless attack
During the trial, the jury was told how Saadi meticulously planned the attack. He had booked two hotels in Bournemouth for a four-night stay starting 21 May, and CCTV footage showed him scouting locations in the days leading up to the murder.
At around 11.40pm on the night of 24 May, he approached Ms Gray and Ms Miles as they sat on the beach, stabbing Ms Gray to death and leaving Ms Miles with 20 knife wounds.
Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue confirmed that Ms Gray had sustained 10 stab wounds, including a fatal injury to her heart, while Ms Miles suffered extensive injuries but miraculously survived.
A sinister obsession with violence
Prosecutors described Saadi as having a deep fascination with knives and violent crime. He had purchased six knives online, with several later found at his aunt’s home, where he was living, as well as at his parents’ house.
He used the online aliases “Ninja Killer” on Snapchat and “NSkills” on his computer. The court also heard that he had previously dropped out of a physical education course and had conducted internet searches on the murders of Milly Dowler and Brianna Ghey.
University lecturer Dr Lisa-Maria Reiss recalled that Saadi had once asked in class about “how to get away with murder,” prompting her to respond, “You’re not planning a murder, are you?”
Further details of his behaviour in custody emerged during the trial. It can now be reported that Saadi engaged in lewd acts in his prison cell after asking a female officer about the level of media attention his case was receiving.
A night of horror in Bournemouth
In the days leading up to the attack, Saadi was captured on CCTV conducting “reccies” of Bournemouth’s seafront, scouting potential crime scenes. His movements suggested an obsessive level of planning.
During his stay at the resort, he also went to see The Strangers – Chapter 1, a horror “slasher” film. Prosecutors suggested that his choice of film and his long-standing fascination with violent crime provided insight into his mindset.
Prosecutor Jo Martin KC told the court:
“This defendant seems to have wanted to know what it would be like to take a life. Perhaps he wanted to know what it would be like to make women feel afraid. Perhaps he thought it would make him feel powerful, make him interesting to others.
“Perhaps he just couldn’t bear to see people engaged in a happy, normal social interaction and he decided to lash out, to hurt, to butcher.”
Denial and lack of remorse
Despite overwhelming evidence, Saadi denied carrying out the attack, claiming it was a case of mistaken identity. He also suggested that he must have “blacked out” at the time.
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However, the jury rejected his defence, finding him guilty of both murder and attempted murder. He is also due to be sentenced for failing to provide police with his mobile phone PIN code during the investigation.
A family’s heartbreak
Following the verdict, Amie Gray’s sister, Sian, released an emotional statement:
“Amie will never be forgotten. She touched the lives of so many. The immense support and love shown by everyone reflect just that.
“Amie’s life has been brutally taken, but now she can rest in peace. Her strength lives on in all of us.”
Saadi will return to Winchester Crown Court on Friday, where he is expected to receive a life sentence for his crimes.
