Bournemouth, Crime | Posted on December 19th, 2024 | return to news
Justice for Bournemouth beach murder victim as killer found guilty
Amie Gray was murdered on Durley Chine Beach on Friday 24 May, with Leanne Miles receiving serious injuries.
A man has been found guilty of the murder of Amie Gray on Durley Chine Beach earlier this year. Following his conviction, Amie’s wife Sian has issued a statement.
Nasen Saadi, 20, of Croydon was convicted on Wednesday 18 December following a trial at Winchester Crown Court and he will be sentenced on Friday 28 March 2025.
The charges related to the violent attack of Amie Gray and Leanne Miles on Durley Chine Beach on the evening of Friday 24 May 2024, which left Amie dead and Leanne very seriously injured with multiple stab wounds.
The jury heard how Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) had compiled evidence following the fatal stabbing that tracked the defendant’s movements in the days leading up to the offence and his movements after the incident.
Saadi travelled down to the Bournemouth area on Tuesday 21 May 2024 and stayed in hotels in the town for four nights. On the nights preceding the attack he was seen to go down to the seafront near to the scene of the murder and appeared to be researching the area and the routes to and from the beach.
On the evening of Friday 24 May 2024, he left his hotel at around 10.45pm and was again captured on CCTV walking up and down the seafront. At times he appeared to be looking over at his two victims, who were sitting on the beach by a fire.
At around 11.40pm, he approached them without warning and launched his brutal attack on them both, chasing them and stabbing them repeatedly.
Saadi ran away onto the beach but was captured leaving the area on CCTV moments later and was also seen by a witness as he made his way up from the seafront back to his hotel.
Leanne was able to call 999 and officers along with medical staff arrived on scene shortly afterwards. Despite their strenuous efforts, Amie was pronounced dead at the scene, having sustained multiple stab wounds.
Leanne was taken to hospital for treatment to wounds to her side, back and arms.
Detailed enquiries, including extensive house-to-house enquiries and an exhaustive trawl of CCTV footage in the area, led to Saadi being identified and he was arrested at his home address in Croydon on the evening of Tuesday 28 May 2024.
During the investigation into his movements during his stay in Bournemouth, many lines of enquiry were followed and additional evidence obtained.
Saadi refused to provide access to his mobile phone throughout the investigation despite a court order requiring him to provide access. This led to him being charged with an offence under Section 49 of the Regulation of Investigation Powers Act (RIPA), to which he pleaded guilty at the start of the trial.
Amie’s wife Sian said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank all of Dorset Police, the jury, prosecution team, the medics and first response team. To each and every person who have helped bring Amie the justice that she deserves.
“I particularly want to thank the family liaison officers, Jo and Florence who have gone above and beyond to support us through such pain and tragedy.
“Amie will never be forgotten. She touched the lives of so many. The immense support and love shown by everyone, reflects just that.
“Amie’s life has been brutally taken but now she can rest in peace. Her strength lives on in all of us.”
Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins, of MCIT, said: “Amie and Leanne were enjoying an early summer evening at the beach in May and were totally unaware of the presence of the defendant, a complete stranger to them. He had selected them as his target that night after several weeks of planning to come to Bournemouth to kill someone.
“The first they were aware of him was when he launched his attack as they sat on the sand in the moonlight. They were taken completely by surprise, yet Amie shouted for him to leave Leanne alone. Her selfless bravery that night saved Leanne’s life, but tragically cost her own.
“The investigation by Dorset Police started with the first emergency call from the beach by Leanne. She was able to give details that proved vital in establishing the description and direction of travel of the attacker. This led to a large-scale search for CCTV involving BCP Council, local residents and crucially local business owners and hoteliers who willingly assisted in the enquiries. The community united to help track down the killer.
“The investigation team worked tirelessly for many weeks and months to gather all the available evidence seeking to bring the attacker to justice for Amie, Leanne and their families who have been extremely supportive of the investigation throughout. I would like to thank them for the way they have bravely endured the court proceedings each in their own way.
“I hope that this outcome provides some degree of comfort that allows them to move forward. I know it has been hard to do whilst waiting for the outcome of the trial.
“My thanks go to the Crown Prosecution Service and the prosecution team for presenting the evidence gathered by the investigation team in the best way possible. An investigation of this scale is truly a team effort from beginning to end.
“We fully understand that this senseless murder had a considerable impact on the whole community in the Bournemouth area. We will continue to do all we can to work with partners and tackle knife crime and violence against women and girls in the town and I hope this case demonstrates that we will do everything in our power to ensure offenders are identified and held to account.”
Benjamin May, a Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Wessex, said: “This was a senseless attack which shocked the people of Bournemouth – and our deepest condolences remain with Amie Gray’s family.
“Though both victims were chosen at random, Nasen Saadi’s unfathomable desire to carry out a murder was backed up by extensive planning – which included going to great lengths to avoid getting caught.
“Now he has been convicted and faces life behind bars, I hope he will be forgotten.
“In contrast, we hope that Amie’s memory will live on; as a much-loved young woman and a pillar of her community, who bravely and selflessly defended her friend in the face of a terrifying attack.
“Our thoughts today are with all those who loved and cherished her, as well as with Leanne Miles, whose ongoing support has helped us deliver justice. We hope she and everyone affected by this tragedy can find some solace in today’s verdict.”
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