Sabina Nessa’s sister dubs killer 'disgusting animal' as 'coward' doesn't show up at own sentencing

Ms Islam said: “You are an awful human being and do not deserve your name to be said. You are a disgusting animal.”

She added that her sister was an “amazing role model” who was “powerful, fearless, bright and just an amazing soul”.

She described being haunted by images of what her sister went through in her last moments.

Head teacher Lisa Williams described the “devastating” impact on Sabina's school.

In a statement, she said Ms Nessa’s primary school was in “utter shock”.

She said Ms Nessa was a “happy, hard-working” teacher who had a “fulfilling career ahead of her”.

On Ms Nessa’s class of 30 students, she said: “For the rest of their lives, these young children will never be able to comprehend why someone murdered their teacher and the world in which they live is not safe for them to play in a park.”

It came as killer Koci Selamaj declined to attend his sentencing today.

Members of Ms Nessa’s family had gathered in court two of the Old Bailey on Thursday.

Mr Justice Sweeney said the sentencing could go ahead in the absence of the defendant, Selamaj, 36, as the court had no power to force him to attend.

The judge noted a life sentence was “inevitable” with a starting point for a minimum term of 30 years.

Selamaj, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, had admitted the murder of Ms Nessa at an earlier hearing.

Ms Nessa, 28, was attacked by Selamaj in a park in Kidbrooke, south London, on the evening of September 17 last year.

Mr Justice Sweeney adjourned the sentencing until 10am on Friday.