Zara Aleena, 35, was attacked in the early hours of Sunday in Ilford while returning home after a night out. He was found with serious head injuries and died at the hospital. A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday. Her friends described her as a “beautiful person” who cared for others and expressed their anger that she could not go home safely. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday at Ilford. Aleena suffered multiple injuries after being attacked while walking along Cranbrook Street in Ilford to Gants Hill Station. Police said no weapon appeared to have been used. Describing her horror of the attack, Aleena’s friend Nadia wrote on Instagram: “She was coming home from meeting friends. When will it be safe for a woman to walk home safely? “ Writing on a GoFundMe page created in her memory, Nadia Butt said: “Everyone who met Zara always mentioned how kind and selfless she was. She was truly a kind soul. She liked to take care of the animals. In fact, that’s how we met and became friends. “We were both trying to save a stray cat!” Lisa Hodgson, Aleena’s best friend since they were teenagers together, wrote on Facebook that she was “completely broken” by the news. “I am shocked, I am angry, I feel sick in my stomach,” he said. “We spent most of the weekends together. “We were supposed to be together this weekend, but I had to cancel it and I arranged to meet next weekend.” A screenshot of her last message from Aleena sent on Friday night said: “I miss your beautiful face this weekend xx I look forward to seeing you next weekend”. “I wish I had met her this weekend,” Hodgson wrote. “I will never see her again! I will never hear her voice again. We always talked every day !!!! I will never get over this! “ Calling for justice for her friend, she wrote: “When will our roads be safe? Something has to be done! Something has to be done!”. Lisa’s older brother, Lee Hodgson, 40, said their family had known Aleena since she and Lisa were teenagers. She said it took Aleena many years to complete her part-time studies because she worked so hard to support her family, taking jobs in her 20s at Tie Rack’s retailer branch. Lee told the Guardian: “I’m not sure my words could justify her, but she was really so caring and beautiful. “Zara rarely touched alcohol, so she always watches my sister when they go out. “My mom and I always felt good knowing that Lisa was with Zara as well, as Zara was always very reasonable and equal.” He added: “Just because she had a night out and was coming home late, that should not have put her life in danger.” Aleena wanted to become a lawyer and had a law degree from the University of Westminster. From May she worked as a manager at the Royal Court of Justice on the Strand in London and previously worked for the resettlement of refugees and as an outlaw in a law firm in central London. Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: “We are devastated and outraged by the murder of another woman who had every right to be safe. Our thoughts and solidarity are with Zara’s family and loved ones. “How many more women have to die before male violence against women at work is taken seriously to prevent male violence against women and to get the right resources?” “We have the right to be free from the threat of violence in every sphere of life – from our homes to public spaces and the Internet.” Simon added: “We are exhausted by the constant ‘security advice’ that places the responsibility on women not to be attacked. This is the guilt of the victims. We demand justice, accountability and the focus should be where it should be: in dealing with the attitudes and behaviors of men and in stopping the perpetrators “.
