Man remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with the murder of Sabina Nessa

A man charged with the murder of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa has indicated he intended to plead not guilty.

Koci Selamaj, 36, was remanded in custody after appearing at Willesden Magistrates’ Court today.

He is charged with the murder of the 28 year old in Kidbrooke on September 17.

Selamaj, of Terminus Road, Eastbourne, was asked to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the hearing.

His solicitor, Aidan Harvey, said Selamaj intended to plead not guilty to the charge.

He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday.

Ms Nessa was attacked while walking to meet a friend at The Depot Bar.

She had left her home in nearby Astell Road and her body was found the next day in Cator Park by a member of the public.

On Friday, more than 500 people joined a vigil in Pegler Square during which the teacher’s sister Jebina Yasmin Islam told the crowd she had “lost an amazing, caring, beautiful sister, who left this world far too early”.

She said her family’s “world is shattered” and that they are “simply lost for words”.

Members of her family also spoke at a rally at East London Mosque, while a candle was lit outside No 10 Downing Street in memory of the school teacher.

A post-mortem examination into the cause of Ms Nessa’s death was inconclusive.