Walthamstow Rapist-Murderer Aman Vyas Found Guilty After Decade-Long Hunt
Aman Vyas, 35, has been found guilty of a terrifying spree of rapes across Walthamstow that ended with the brutal murder of Michelle Samaraweera. The Old Bailey jury returned the verdict on Thursday, 30 July, bringing a decade-long nightmare to a close.
Rampage of Sexual Violence and Murder
Vyas’s crime spree unfolded between March and May 2009. His first known attack targeted a 59-year-old woman on 24 March. Following her home, Vyas forced his way into her flat, brutally punched her before raping her and then apologised before fleeing. The victim suffered serious facial injuries, and forensic teams recovered partial DNA evidence from the scene.
On 22 April, Vyas approached a 46-year-old woman under the guise of buying drugs. He then pulled a knife and dragged her into a nearby alley where he raped her. The woman escaped and alerted police, but again only partial DNA was recovered at the scene.
The third victim, a 32-year-old woman, was found badly injured in a church graveyard after attacks on 29 April. She suffered a fractured jaw, broken nose, and a deep head wound, remaining hospitalised for over a month. DNA evidence linked this assault to the earlier attacks.
Murder of Michelle Samaraweera
On 30 May 2009, Vyas struck again, attacking 35-year-old Michelle Samaraweera, a widow living in Hainault with ties to Walthamstow. CCTV caught Vyas and Michelle at a local shop before she was found strangled and sexually assaulted in a nearby park. Her body was discovered partially clothed early that morning by a dog walker.
Post-mortem confirmed strangulation and sexual assault, with DNA evidence tracing back to Vyas, linking all crimes from the earlier rapes to this final, fatal attack.
Massive Investigation Leads to Arrest and Conviction
Despite collecting DNA evidence early on, Vyas was not on the national DNA database. The police launched an enormous investigation, visiting over 1,800 addresses and taking more than 1,100 DNA samples. Media appeals circulated 60,000 posters of the suspect’s CCTV image, sparking a breakthrough when a former employer identified Vyas.
Vyas fled to India just days after the murder, sparking an international manhunt. He was arrested at New Delhi Airport in 2011 during an attempt to flee the country. A lengthy extradition battle followed until he was finally returned to the UK in 2019, where full DNA tests matched him to the crimes with overwhelming certainty.
Detective Praises Long Road to Justice
“There has been a long wait for justice in this case but finally the victims and their families have seen the person responsible brought to account. Vyas did all he could to avoid responsibility for his crimes.”
“Thousands of men volunteered DNA samples to help the investigation. It was through these efforts that Vyas was finally identified and brought to justice,” said Detective Sergeant Shaleena Sheikh.
“This case shows the Met’s determination to bring violent predators to justice. Anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault or violent crime, please come forward—we will support you.”
Vyas was also convicted of one count of grievous bodily harm and six counts of rape but was found not guilty of possessing a bladed weapon.
He is due for sentencing at Croydon Crown Court on 21 August.
