AN aspiring lawyer who was murdered by a stranger just meters from her front door was stalked and ambushed from behind.
The “bubbly” Zara Aleena, 35, was attacked by a man who “attacked her from behind” in the early hours of Sunday.
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Zara was walking home after a night out in Ilford, East London, when she was killed.
The attack has been compared to the tragic murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.
Police have arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of Zara’s murder.
A neighbor, who lives across the street from the attack and provided CCTV to the police, told the Times: “The guy was coming from behind, he was following her.
“It happened on the main road. He hit her a couple of times.”
Police do not believe weapons were used in the attack.
Zara’s friend Nadia, 42, said the aspiring lawyer decided to walk home because it was so close.
“He just decided to walk home because it was close. Nothing like this had ever happened here.”
“She wanted to borrow me some heels and some mascara that night, but I couldn’t answer my phone because I was busy.
“She was a gentle soul, she wouldn’t hurt a fly. She had just obtained her law degree and was working in central London.
“She wanted to become a lawyer so she could support herself and her family.”
Zara’s family has now recounted their devastation.
A cousin, who asked not to be identified, said the Daily Mail that he had been working in the Royal Courts of Justice as an administration officer while looking for a job as a trainee solicitor.
“She was a lovely person,” he said.
“It’s a shock to the family.”
He called the law graduate “bubbly” and said she “brought the room to life.”
Another friend said that Ms. Aleena’s parents are too devastated to speak.
Police say she was attacked on Cranbrook Road as she was walking towards Gants Hill station.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene at 2:44 a.m.
Met Police Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell said: “Zara, who lived in the area, was walking along Cranbrook Road towards Gants Hill station when she was assaulted.
“It is now believed that he was the victim of an attack by a stranger.
“His family is aware of this and as the investigation progresses they will continue to be updated and supported.
“A special autopsy has been completed. Zara suffered multiple serious injuries that contributed to her death.
“There is no evidence at this time that weapons were used during the attack.”
MOMENTS KILLED FROM HOME
Chief Superintendent Bell, who heads the Met’s East Area basic command unit, added: “We are keeping Zara’s family updated on our progress.
“My sincerest condolences go out to them at this terrible time.”
The force urges anyone who was in the Cranbrook Road area of Ilford between 2am and 3am on Sunday to contact them.
A neighbor said: “I got home at that time. We had just gone to an Ed Sheeran concert.
She was lovely…she brought the room to life.
“I heard screaming but I didn’t know if it was a boy or a fox.
“I didn’t think much of it.
“It’s a shock because at 2 a.m. it was still busy with a lot of cars.”
Subhash, 60, who lives near Cranbrook Road, said he was woken up by a helicopter around 3 a.m.
“I’m a little concerned that something like this is happening on my doorstep,” he said.
“It’s not just my daughter. It’s other daughters, other girls, other women in the area.”
Anyone with relevant information or footage is asked to call the police main incident room on 0208 345 3715.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online via crimetoppers-uk.org
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Reference-www.thesun.co.uk