Criminology student accused of killing stranger ‘asked in class how to get away with murder’
A criminology student asked questions about how to get away with murder during a lecture before stabbing a woman to death in a random attack on Bournemouth seafront, her murder trial has heard.
Nasen Saadi, 20, is accused of murdering fitness coach Amie Gray, 34, in the same location at Durley Chine Beach, West Undercliff Promenade, on May 24.
Winchester Crown Court heard that Saadi, from Croydon, south London, changed his course at the University of Greenwich in the autumn term of 2023 to study criminology and criminal psychology.
Lecturer Dr Lisa-Maria Rice told the court Saadi asked her questions about the murder after she gave a seminar titled “Introduction to Social Sciences”.
Dr Rice said: “I had finished the lecture and asked if I had any questions. He said, ‘Can you talk about killing someone in self-defense?
Nasen Saadi appears at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire (Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire)
She continued, “I’m confused because I don’t remember talking about this topic. Even though it’s a topic I’m familiar with, I don’t mention it in lectures. I see my students being very confused about why this question is asked. .
“I remember saying that we did not discuss this issue in this lecture and that there would be a lecture on police matters next.
“As far as I can tell he completely ignored that and asked again about cases of self-defence and how long that would take if the person claimed they were attacked in the first place.”
She added: “He asked me what DNA was left, for how long and if the police were able to trace the DNA and I said ‘yes, they are quite capable at that’.”
“He ignored it, like he wasn’t listening.
“I said to him afterwards: ‘You’re not planning a murder are you?’ He said no, he was working on an article he wanted to write for a competitive paper so he could win £500 .
Scenes of Amy Gray’s murder on Bournemouth beach (PA Media)
Dr. Rice, a former Metropolitan Police SWAT officer, said her partner, Pavandeep Singh Aneja, also a SWAT officer, came to the class in November to conduct Q&A.
She said Saadi asked different types of questions to other students, adding: “The questions were very focused on DNA, how to get away with murder, things like that, which was very different from other questions we received, such as jobs.” – Life balance.
Mr Singh said Saadi asked what forensic evidence steps would be taken after the murder.
“The question was asked: ‘If a crime occurs in one area, within one police force, how is that information shared with other police forces?'” he said.
“There’s more of a question of, ‘What do you think of female police officers?’, which I think is a very strange question.”
Amateur photographer Michael Priddle told the court he went to the seaside to photograph bird life and the rising full moon on the night of the incident.
The 34-year-old strength and conditioning coach was stabbed to death on Durley Chine beach on West Undercliff Promenade on May 24
He said he left the beachfront at about 11.40pm and was walking back to the cliff top past a Victorian shelter on his way home when he heard two loud screams coming from the beach area.
Within three to five minutes, he said, he saw a man wearing dark pants and a black hooded jacket with a ribbon on the front walking towards him.
He added that he felt “very concerned for his safety and he didn’t seem like a nice guy” because “he was making faces and frowning”.
He continued: “For my own safety, I looked at him seriously and I kept walking.”
Priddle added: “He seemed like a nasty guy and I kept staring at him as he walked past the young couple in the Victoria shelter.”
Sarah Jones KC, prosecuting, told the jury that three days after the fatal incident, Priddle selected Saadi’s picture from a display of 10 photos of his identity.
The trial continues after the defendant admitted failing to provide police with his phone password and denied all other charges.
