Life sentence for man who murdered a 20 year old woman in a disused kebab shop in High Wycombe
A man has been given a life sentence for the murder of Zofia Sadowska in a disused kebab shop in High Wycombe.
On Thursday 6th April 2017, at Reading Crown Court, Ahsan Hassan aged 28 of Dashwood Avenue, High Wycombe was found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years’ imprisonment on Monday 10th April 2017 at the same court.
The conviction is in connection with an incident that occurred in High Wycombe on Sunday 18th September 2016.
At around 11.30pm on Sunday 18th September 2017 Hassan took Zofia to a disused kebab shop in Gayhurst Road, High Wycombe where he murdered her.
At around 2am on Monday 19th September 2016 Hassan then took Zofia and put her into a waiting taxi, convincing the driver she was drunk and asleep and travelled to his home address in Dashwood Avenue.
Officers from Thames Valley Police and paramedics were called to a property in Dashwood Avenue at around 5.30am on the morning of Monday 19th September 2017 where they discovered a woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Hassan told investigating officers that it was a suicide pact to try and cover up what he had done.
The woman was later identified as 20 year old Zofia Sadowska from High Wycombe. A post-mortem revealed the cause of death to be asphyxiation.
Hassan was arrested that same day and charged on Thursday 22nd September 2016.
A 40 year old man, also of Dashwood Avenue, High Wycombe was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice at the same trial.
Senior Investigating Officer, Det Insp Stuart Blaik of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: ‘Zofia Sadowska was a fun loving young mother who had everything to live for. She was murdered a week before her 21st birthday at the hands of Ahsan Hassan.
The court has heard during this trial the details about Hassan’s controlling, manipulative and coercive behaviour which resulted in her murder on the evening of Sunday 18th September 2016. On the night of her death Zofia was expecting to be going to a special party, however this never happened.
Hassan had already hatched a plan to kill her because he knew that their relationship was going to end that night and he selfishly couldn’t cope with that.
The jury has seen the CCTV images of Hassan carrying Zofia’s limp and motionless body out of a Kebab shop in Gayhurst Road, High Wycombe and placed into a waiting taxi before being transported back to his home address in Dashwood Avenue.
He told the driver that she was drunk and asleep and that was the reason for her having to be carried to the car.
He then later tried to cover up his callous, cold and truly selfish act by trying to make it look like a suicide pact but this was never the case.
Zofia didn’t want to die, she had spoken about turning her life around, getting a job and learning English.
It is a relief that Hassan has been found guilty for his terrible crime.
I would like to thank Zofia’s family for all the support they have given the investigative team during a truly horrific period of their life. They have shown an incredible amount of strength since the dreadful events of September last year. I would also like to thank all the witnesses who have shown great courage in giving their evidence during this trial, and lastly to the Police Officers, Police staff and our colleagues in the CPS who have worked extremely hard on this investigation.‘
Matthew Knight, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: ‘This case represents a tragedy for Zofia’s family and friends, who have been devastated by her death. I would like to pay tribute to them for their support of the investigation and prosecution.
We have worked closely with Thames Valley Police since this investigation was launched and as a result of the hard work and diligence of the prosecution team, a just outcome has been achieved.
We know that nothing will bring Zofia back to her family and friends, but we hope that the conviction and today’s sentence bring them at least a small sense that justice has been done. Our thoughts are very much with them all at this time.‘
