A man accused of stabbing a woman to death on a Bournemouth beach researched murderers and knives beforehand, a court has heard.
Nasen Saadi, from Croydon, south London, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court charged with the murder of 34-year-old physical trainer Amie Gray.
He allegedly stabbed her to death at Durley Chine Beach, Bournemouth, around 11.40pm on 24 May, and also attempted to kill Leanne Miles at the same location.
Amie Gray. Pic: PA
Sarah Jones KC, prosecuting, said that since January 2024, Saadi’s laptop showed he had searched for murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and her killer Levi Bellfield, as well as Brianna Ghey and her killers.
There were also multiple visits to websites selling knives and searches for different types of knives, Ms Jones said.
The court was told that Saadi, 20, who is studying for a degree in criminology and criminal psychology at the University of Greenwich, used the name “Ninja killer” for his Snapchat.
Saadi’s laptop had searches for “stabbing”, “crime maps”, “knife crime maps”, “sharpest knives” and “what supermarkets UK can you buy kitchen knives”, the court was told.
CCTV footage of a man – said by the prosecution to be Saadi – walking along the promenade on Bournemouth seafront on the night of the attack. Pic: PA
It was also alleged that his laptop included searches for “why do criminals get away with crimes in rural areas” and “why is it harder for a criminal to get caught if he does it in another town”.
The court was told further searchers were made for: “Are pebble beaches easier to run compared with sand beaches”, to find out whether Brighton and Bournemouth beaches were pebble or sand, and which was busier at night.
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Ms Jones added that another search was: “What hotels do not have CCTV in UK,” as well as: “Can you pay Airbnb with cash”.
Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue previously told the court that Ms Gray died as a result of ten knife wounds while Ms Miles suffered 20 knife injuries.
Dr Melissa Pepper, a senior lecturer at the University of Greenwich, said some of the online searches could have been linked to his course.
These, she said, included searches like “effectiveness of the death penalty” and “why crime will never be eliminated”.
The defendant, who has pleaded guilty to failing to provide his mobile phone code to police, denies the charges and the trial continues.
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