Court Hears Criminology Student Planned Beach Murder

Winchester Crown Court has been informed that a criminology student, who allegedly spent a month preparing a random murder, stabbed two women on Bournemouth beach, resulting in one fatality. Nasen Saadi is accused of killing Amie Gray, aged 34, and causing serious injuries to Leanne Miles, 38, on Durley Chine Beach in Bournemouth on May 24. Prosecutor Sarah Jones KC stated to the jury: “He seems to have wanted to know what it would be like to take life.” Mr. Saadi, a 20-year-old from Croydon, has entered pleas of not guilty to the charges of murder and attempted murder. Ms. Jones indicated that the defendant started selecting a location for the assault in April, investigating beaches across the south of England before deciding on Bournemouth. The barrister recounted that on the evening of the stabbings, the two women were seated on the sand, having lit a fire and observing the full moon. She further elaborated: “With purpose, slowly, stealthily and quietly; when he thought no-one would observe him, he hovered at the edges of the promenade, then stepped on to the sand.” He inflicted multiple stab wounds upon both individuals, pursuing them as they attempted to flee or distract him from the other, and persisted in his assault. He abandoned them on the sand, leaving them to bleed to death, as he retreated, attempting to vanish into the shadows, away from the illumination of streetlights or moonlight, and return to anonymity. Ms. Gray, a football coach residing in Poole, was declared deceased at the location. Ms. Miles received hospital care for stab wounds sustained to her chest and back. The prosecutor suggested that the defendant’s motive might have been a desire for power or to instill fear in women. Ms. Jones further stated: “Perhaps he just couldn’t bear to see people engaged in a happy normal social interaction and he decided to lash out, to hurt, to butcher.” A video presented in court showed Ms. Miles recounting her pleas for her life, made for the sake of her children. From her hospital bed, three days following the assault, she recounted: “I just remember we turned around, and I looked at this boy.” She added: “He went towards me first – because I remember Amie saying: ‘What are you doing? Get off her.'” With her voice trembling, Ms. Miles detailed losing sight of her friend during their escape, but recalled hearing her exclaim, “Get off me.” She proceeded: “He came back on to me and he was continuously stabbing me.” She stated: “I said: ‘Please stop, I’ve got children.’ And then I think that’s when he started to go, he walked away.” The court heard that in 2023, Mr. Saadi had previously inquired with a lecturer at the University of Greenwich regarding the defense of self-defense in murder cases and DNA evidence. The jury was informed that the lecturer responded: “You’re not planning a murder, are you?” According to the prosecutor, Mr. Saadi conducted internet searches in March and April for terms such as “deadliest knife,” “machete,” and “what hotels don’t have CCTV.” Ms. Jones further mentioned that he reserved a Travelodge in Bournemouth for two nights starting May 21, and on one of those evenings, he watched the film *The Strangers – Chapter 1*, a movie depicting a killer without a discernible motive. It was also disclosed that he made a reservation at a nearby guesthouse on May 23. The jury was informed that he stated to the police that he could not recall his activities on the day of the attack, implying a possible blackout. The court heard that upon his arrest on May 28 at his Purley residence, police discovered knives, latex gloves, and a balaclava. However, Ms. Jones stated that no weapon or clothing used on the night of the killing has been located. The jury was informed that the defendant has admitted guilt to the charge of refusing detectives access to his mobile phone. The trial is ongoing.