Criminology Student on Trial for Brutal Bournemouth Beach Stabbing
A 20-year-old student, Nasen Saadi, faces murder charges at Winchester Crown Court after a savage attack on Durley Chine Beach, Bournemouth, left 34-year-old Amie Gray dead and her friend Leanne Miles gravely injured.
Shocking Details of the Attack
Prosecutors say Saadi, from Croydon, south London, stabbed Ms Gray 10 times, causing fatal wounds. Ms Miles survived despite receiving 20 knife injuries. The attack took place on May 24, 2024.
“Amie Gray saved my life,” Ms Miles told the court.
‘Blacked Out’ Claim and Dark Interests Revealed
During a police interview, Saadi claimed he “blacked out” after leaving a Travelodge the day before the attack and denied being at the scene. He insisted:
“I feel like you’ve got very weak evidence… I am innocent. I wasn’t there.”
Saadi also admitted a fascination with true crime and horror movies. He switched his university course from physical education to criminology due to an interest in unsolved crimes, citing the Setagaya family murders in Japan. A recent horror film he watched, The Strangers – Chapter 1, features a killer with no motive, which Saadi said he found intriguing.
He added, “I like unsolved crimes,” but claimed horror films left him feeling “nothing… it’s just a movie.”
Mountains of Evidence Point to Planning
Police found a chilling arsenal in Saadi’s possession:
- Five knives, a machete, and self-defence spray in his bedroom
- A blue rucksack with gloves, a balaclava, torch, wet wipes, and chilli packets
- Knives and an axe hidden at his parents’ home, supposedly concealed by his father
- Records showing six knife purchases online between February and April 2024
- A further knife stashed in a wall cavity at his aunt’s house, where he lived
Trial Ongoing – Jury Set to Hear More
Saadi denies murder and attempted murder but admits to refusing police access to his phone PIN, calling it an “invasion of privacy.”
Prosecutor Sarah Jones KC argues the attack was meticulously planned, while defence points to Saadi’s blackout claim. The jury continues to consider the grisly evidence as the trial unfolds.
