The Murder Of Zara Aleena

On 26 June 2022, Zara Aleena was raped and murdered in the front yard of a home as she was walking home in in London England. The murder attracted attention after it was discovered the killer Jordon McSweeney had committed numerous other offences and should have been recalled to prison.

Around 2am on 26 June, Aleena left a bar on Ilford High Street close to Ilford railway station and began walking towards her home. At the same time, McSweeney had been thrown out of a bar for harassing staff and had subsequently approached several other women. At 2:17am, Aleena was violently attacked by McSweeney. She was discovered collapsed on a driveway, struggling to breathe, and was taken to the Royal London Hospital where she died of her injuries.

The murder occurred nine days after McSweeney was released from prison on licence, having being jailed for robbery. A subsequent report said an attempt was made to recall him to prison two days before the murder, and suggested he should not have been released in the first place. The Metropolitan Police conducted an internal review after reports were published that McSweeney had been convicted 28 times for 69 earlier offences, including nine separate spells in prison, and ought to have been recalled. McSweeney had also had a history of violence and abuse, and a restraining order was taken out against him in 2021. Concern had been raised on 22 June, four days before the murder, after McSweeney failed to show for two appointments. Two days later, the Metropolitan Police attempted to arrest him, but he was not at the address on their records.

The Chief Inspector of Probation said the failure to assess McSweeney was caused by a lack of probation officers. London was highlighted as particularly problematic, with around half of posts remaining to be filled in some London boroughs.

In December, McSweeney pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum 38-year term.