Police officers search the area prior to a vigil in memory of Sabina Nessa, a teacher who was murdered on November 24th, 2021 in Pegler Square, London, England. REUTERS Peter Nicholls Peter Nicholls is a New Zealand native.
LONDON, Sept. 24 Reuters - Public vigils were held on Friday for a teacher who was found dead in a London park last week highlighting public anger over violence against women while police said a suspect had been released under investigation.
Sabina Nessa left her home in south London the evening of Sept 17 to make the short walk through a local park to a bar where she was due to meet a friend. She has never arrived and her body was found in a park the next afternoon.
There were vigils in the local area and across Britain to highlight Nessa and to remember violence against women.
We are just lost for words, her sister Jebina Yasmin Islam said at a vigil near the crime scene.
We as a people shouldn't go through what we are going through. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his thoughts were with Nessa's family and friends at this deeply distressing time while Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, said she was saddened by the loss of another innocent young woman on our streets. Women have spoken about their sadness and anger over inaction in ending violence against women after a series of murders that shocked the country.
Sarah Everard was murdered by a police officer in march in south London, while a British teenager was found guilty of killing sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in a northwest London park last year. Women are repeatedly expected to change their behaviour to reduce risk, shifting responsibility away from the decisions and actions of men, Local councillor Denise Scott-McDonald said at the vigil.
Sabina was a teacher, a friend, a sister. She is the latest on a long list of women murdered in our streets. The Metropolitan Police said that they had arrested a 38-year-old man on Thursday at Lewisham but was released as an suspect and could be held back.