Man found guilty of stabbing to death on beach

A criminology student has been found guilty of attempted murder and the stabbings of two women on Bournemouth beach.

Amy Gray, 34, was killed and Leanne Miles, 38, was seriously injured in the attack on Durley Chine Beach on 24 May.

Nassen Saadi, 20, of Croydon, was found guilty after a nine-day trial at Winchester Crown Court, pleading guilty to failing to provide police access to his mobile phone.

The prosecution said Saadi “appeared to want to know what it would mean to take a life”.

Judge Mrs Justice Cutts told Saadi: “You have been convicted of the most serious crimes.”

He said he faces at least life in prison with a “significantly long” sentence.

Saadi will be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on March 28.

On the night of the attack, both women were sitting on the sand where they had lit a fire.

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Saadi walking up and down the promenade before stepping onto the sand and attacking the couple, leaving them bleeding to death.

Ms Gray, a fitness instructor, was pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics arrived.

Ms Miles was taken to hospital with 20 stab wounds, mainly to her back.

Saadi, who was studying criminology at the University of Greenwich, was arrested on May 28 at his aunt’s house in Purley.

Police found several knives and self-defense spray in a bedroom at the property.

During the investigation, no weapons or clothes were recovered on the night of the murder.