Kate Middleton says she is ‘saddened by the loss of another innocent young woman on our streets’

Kate Middleton tonight said she was ‘saddened by the loss of another innocent young woman on our streets’ as dozens of campaigners against violence turned out to remember Sabina Nessa who was killed while walking just yards from her home. 

Campaigners against violence to women stood together tonight to remember Sabina Nessa who was cruelly killed just yards from her south London home.

Dozens of supporters flocked to Kidbrooke Village to honour the of the 28-year-old Primary school teacher who was murder a week ago today.

The campaigners shared their out-pouring of anger and grief at the senseless and as yet unsolved killing – which has shocked Britain.

Women, men and children stood side by side in Pegler Square where Sabina had been walking to when she was attacked and killed at about 8.30pm last Friday evening.

Kidbrooke Village residents Roxana Chelaru and husband Ionut told how they no longer feel safe in their home.

Roxana told MailOnline: ‘We live two minutes from where this poor young woman was murdered. We walk our dog in the park where she was killed. Sometimes I walk him there at night when it is dark.

‘We thought this was a nice place to live with other families. But now I don’t feel safe.

‘But tonight we want to show solidarity with this poor woman. This should not happen.’

Husband Ionut added: ‘It’s very sad. Now I am worried about my wife. Often she must walk back from the station alone. After what has happened we don’t want to live here anymore.’

Michael Stacey and wife Seychelle brought their six year old daughter Olivia to the vigil because Sabina Nessa was her teacher.

Mr Stacey, 42, a printer told MailOnline: ‘I don’t know what to say. It’s a terrible thing to happen. She was a lovely woman and a great teacher. Olivia loved her. So we’re here to pay our respects. It’s the least we can do.’ 

Jamie Klingler, co-founder of the Reclaim The Streets pressure group, said Londoners had to come together to defend women against violence.

She told MailOnline: ‘This has been a terrible tragedy and everyone has been affected by this latest act of violence.

‘But the community has come together to stand up against violence to women.’

The vigil took place just yards from where a man wanted by police has been captured on CCTV around the time of the killing.

The film shows a white man in his 40’s, dressed in a black hooded sweat-shirt, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers, leaving the scene.

He appears to hide his face from the CCTV cameras which are mounted on the wall of an apartment block in the upmarket development’s main square.

Met Police have now identified this man as their prime suspect in the murder of Miss Nessa. He has been released pending further investigation as police continue to hunt for the primary teacher’s killer.

Meanwhile a specialist search team scoured flower pots and drains around the square for clues to the murder. Other uniform officers kept a low profile during the vigil.

Scotland Yard wanted to avoid a repeat of the disastrous scene earlier this year during a vigil for murder victim Sarah Everard.

Met chiefs were accused of being heavy-handed with female demonstrators at the height of Covid-19 restrictions, when large public gatherings were banned.

Police thanked members of the public for sharing their appeal as they continue to ramp up efforts to identify a second man after police released CCTV footage of a bearded and balding man looking over his shoulder as healks down Pegler Square in Kidbrooke, south-east London.

The Met’s Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: ‘We want to thank those who have shared our image appeal over the last 24 hours – it has gained a huge amount of coverage and we are extremely grateful for the public’s help.

‘We are now a week on from Sabina’s murder and while we have made good progress with our investigation we must keep this appeal for information going and encourage anyone who has any information to come forward.’ 

Police are urging anyone who might be able to identify the man and his vehicle to make contact with them immediately on 0208 721 4266 or by calling Crimestoppers completely anonymously on 0800 555 111.

It comes as Ms Nessa’s family released a new statement reiterating their shock over her horrifying murder as further details of the case were reported overnight.

Footage showed Sabina being struck on the head by an assailant wielding a weapon just moments after she left her flat, before she was slung over his shoulder and dumped in a local park, it is claimed.

Sabina’s sister Jebina Yasmin Islam said: ‘We as a family are shocked of the murder of our sister, daughter and aunty to my girls.

‘There are no words to describe how we are feeling as a family at the moment. We did not expect that something like this would ever happen to us.

‘I urge everyone to walk on busy streets when walking home from work, school or a friend’s homes. Please keep safe.

‘I ask you to pray for our sister and make dua (supplication) for her. May Allah grant her paradise.’ 

Assistant Commissioner Rolfe said the Metropolitan Police is not asking women to change their behaviour when going out at night in light of the murder of Sabina Nessa.

Meanwhile, Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry has said: ‘The streets are safe for women, I’d like to reassure the public around that.’ 

In a separate development, reports suggested the attack itself had been caught on CCTV.

Sabina disappeared on Friday evening as she left home on a five minute walk to meet a man for a first date at a local pub. Her body was found in Cator Park, 200 yards from her home, on Saturday afternoon. 

The attack CCTV, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, shows an assailant apparently striking Sabina on the head with an object moments after she left her house.

He then carries her over his shoulder in the direction of Cator Park, a police source told the newspaper.