Boyfriend of student Sabita Thanwani, 19, killed at her uni halls is arrested on suspicion of murder after police hunt
THE boyfriend of a student killed at her university accommodation has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Sabita Thanwani, 19, died from her injuries at Arbour House halls of residence in Clerkenwell, London, shortly after 5am yesterday.
Cops launched a murder investigation following the British national’s death, and were urgently trying to trace her partner Maher Maaroufe.
The 22-year-old Tunisian national has since been arrested on suspicion of murder and assault on police and remains in custody, Scotland Yard confirmed.
Police had previously appealed directly to Maaroufe to hand himself in during a London-wide manhunt.
DCI Linda Bradley, Specialist Crime said: “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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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 in Sebastian Street run by United Students.
DCI Bradley, who is leading the investigation, said: “I would like to thank everyone for publicising and sharing our appeal to trace Maaroufe.
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“Sabita’s family have been updated with this development and continue to be supported by specially trained officers. Our deepest condolences are with them.
“I would ask everyone to respect their privacy at this indescribably devastating time for them as they come to terms with Sabita’s murder.”
Neighbours yesterday told how they woke after a fire alarm was set off just half an hour before police were called.
And students living below Sabita’s privately rented 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.