Failures by Multiple Agencies Contributed to Zara Aleena’s Death, Inquest Finds

A jury has determined that a series of failures by multiple agencies led to the tragic death of Zara Aleena, a 35-year-old aspiring lawyer who was brutally murdered in east London. The incident occurred as Aleena was walking home from a night out in Ilford, where she was attacked by Jordan McSweeney, just nine days after his release from prison on licence.

Following the inquest into Aleena’s death, the jury concluded that the failure of various state agencies to adhere to established policies and procedures significantly contributed to the outcome. Specifically, shortcomings in intelligence sharing, risk assessment, and coordinated response were highlighted.

The jury pointed out major lapses in risk assessment by the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), noting that McSweeney, the perpetrator, was wrongly rated as a medium risk instead of high risk, a designation that should have been in place since February 2021.

Moreover, the jurors highlighted a lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities across different agencies in effectively managing offenders, leading to an inability to prevent the tragedy that befell Aleena.

Additionally, the jury criticized the Metropolitan Police for their handling of the case, noting that attempts to arrest McSweeney after his release were hindered by inaccurate data and a lack of follow-up actions on crucial dates.

Throughout the proceedings, Farah Naz, Aleena’s aunt, expressed her belief that the murder could have been prevented if the justice system had functioned properly. She raised concerns about systemic under-resourcing and highlighted the devastating consequences of these failures.

McSweeney, who confessed to Aleena’s murder and sexual assault, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022. Despite this conviction, the inquest shed light on a string of oversights that could have altered the course of events.

The tragedy has prompted calls for reforms within the implicated agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future and to ensure that individuals like Zara Aleena do not fall victim to the shortcomings of the system.