Zara Aleena’s killer wins bid to reduce minimum term of life sentence

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. McSweeney, who refused to attend his sentencing hearing last December, was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years after admitting Ms Aleena’s murder and sexual assault. open image in gallery Ms Aleena, who was training to be a solicitor, was found struggling to breathe and later died in hospital In a ruling on Friday, three judges at the appeal court in London allowed McSweeney’s appeal, finding that the sentencing judge had imposed too high an “uplift” to the minimum term. open image in gallery Jordan McSweeney murdered Ms Aleena in June 2022 In a statement issued by Ms Aleena’s aunt, Farah Naz, they said: “Today’s decision, a decision to reduce the minimum sentence for that repugnant man, aligns with an established legal sentencing framework, a framework we comprehend. open image in gallery Farah Naz, Ms Aleena’s aunt, said her killer’s appeal bid has caused the family profound distress Her aunt Farah Naz said it was “beyond belief that this individual, who was too spineless to attend his own sentencing, has the audacity to appeal the very sentence he couldn’t be bothered to witness”.