Student, 19, ‘murdered’ at her uni halls named as cops urge boyfriend to hand himself in
A STUDENT killed at her university accommodation has been named by police as Sabita Thanwani.
The 19-year-old died from her injuries at Arbour House halls of residence in Clerkenwell, London, shortly after 5am yesterday.
Although formal identification awaits, the family of British national Sabita have been informed.
Cops launched a murder investigation following her death, and are urgently trying to trace her boyfriend Maher Maaroufe.
The 22-year-old Tunisian national had been in a relationship with Sabita, but was not a student, the Met said.
DCI Linda Bradley, Specialist Crime, added: “I am reiterating our urgent appeal for information to trace 22-year-old Maher Maaroufe.
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“He has links across London, particularly in the Marble Arch, Edgware Road, and Lewisham areas. He is also known to travel to Cambridgeshire.”
Officers are urging the public not to approach Maaroufe if they see him, but to immediately call 999.
DCI Bradley also appealed directly to Maaroufe to hand himself in, saying: “Maher – I am making this appeal directly to you: if you see this, please go to the nearest police station.
“It is important that we speak with you.”
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Officers previously released a photo of Maaroufe with dark hair, a moustache and beard, but they say he has since shaved his head and has little facial hair.
Sabita, who was in her first year studying psychology, was found with neck injuries shortly after 5am on March 19.
Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
She is understood to have been a student at nearby City University of London, living in the block run by United Students in Sebastian Street.
Neighbours said they woke after a fire alarm was set off just half an hour before police were called.
And students living below the woman’s private student flat in the six-storey building said they heard loud banging hours before she died.
Owen Newby, 18, a first-year investment finance student had been asleep when he heard a commotion.
‘IT’S TERRIFYING’
He said: “We heard a few loud bangs, it sounded like someone stamping on the floor, and then we heard people running around.
“Then a few hours later we were all woken up when the fire alarm went off, and it wasn’t until we saw police this morning we realised something must have happened.”
Dominique Hodgett, 19, also an investment finance student at City University, added: “It’s terrifying, anyone with a fob can get into the block of flats, we don’t know what really happened.
“We heard the loud noises and banging but there wasn’t any screaming, so we didn’t think much of it.
“It’s incredibly sad, and just not what anyone ever expects to hear, it’s the worst kind of news and I can’t stop thinking about her friends.
“As a young woman when you hear something like this has happened to another student it makes you scared to sleep at night.
“I won’t be staying here tonight, I don’t think I could sleep at all knowing what had happened in the flat above.”
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Flowers have been left at the doorway to the building in tribute to the young woman.
A special post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course.