The family and loved ones of a young woman shot dead have expressed their “disappointment” at the slow progress in holding an inquest to investigate her death.
Sabina Rizvi, 25, from Croydon, was killed in the early hours of the morning on March 20, 2003, after she left Bexleyheath police station with her boyfriend, Mark Williams.
The following year, gang member Paul Asbury, 22, was convicted of her murder and the police watchdog produced a report in 2011 regarding the investigation into their handling of the case.
Despite this, a formal inquest never took place, with Sabina’s mum Iffat Rizvi battling for 18 years to receive answers as to how her daughter died.
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In a hearing at the Old Bailey yesterday (Tuesday, January 18), the court heard that the full inquest, which would take place in front of a jury, will take place later this year.
The family’s solicitor Leslie Thomas told Assistant Coroner Angela Rafferty QC: “The disappointment that my client feels in relation to the fact it has been some two years since the pre-inquest review in this matter.
“I understand the difficulties of the pandemic, but we were hoping we would come along today and get prior disclosure.
“They really want me to express to you how disappointed that they are as they feel as though they have just been waiting and waiting.”
The inquest will aim to establish the circumstances around her death, and the role of the Metropolitan Police in the investigation.
Her tragic death has been attributed to a dispute over a stolen car.
Sabina, who has been described as beautiful, ambitious and fashion-conscious, had persuaded her mother to lend her £15,000 in order for her to establish her own business in Greenwich.
After facing difficulties, she had eventually spent the money on an Audi TT car which her on-off boyfriend, Mr Williams, had collected and sorted for her.
However, shortly afterwards she was made aware that the car was registered as stolen, and despite having no knowledge of the theft, she agreed to attend Bexleyheath police station.
Sabina and Mr Williams were eventually released at 2am from police questioning and were told that the Audi needed to remain in police custody whilst an investigation was ongoing.
They drove back home in Williams’ car, but were tailed by two other vehicles.
One of the cars came up alongside them and fired several shots, with one piercing Sabina’s neck and killing her.
She died at the scene, shortly after police officers arrived.
In an interview with The Guardian in 2009, her mother spoke of the moment they were told of their daughter’s death, saying: “I just screamed so hard. I thought I was suffocating. I ran up the stairs to my husband, screaming: ‘What are they saying? They’re saying Sabina’s dead.’ I didn’t know what was happening.”
A police investigation ensued, and Asbury was arrested and charged with her murder. He was a member of a gang based on the Thameside estate, and was supposedly the owner of the Audi TT which had come into Sabina’s possession.
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, he was sentenced to life, although several others were not convicted and the police are still unsure who fired the fatal shot.
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In the aftermath of Sabina’s death, her family’s heartbreak didn’t stop as her dad Pete was diagnosed with cancer the following year. He died shortly before Asbury was convicted and imprisoned.
Her mum has become a committed gun-campaigner and has set up the charity, Sabina’s Trust Against Revolvers and Racism (Starr), to inform young people of the dangers around gun culture.
Cathryn McGahey QC told the court: “This inquest has been beset by a long history, it has been particularly badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Efforts are being made now to bring this inquest very much back on track with the hope that it can be heard before the end of the year.”
An inquest is now due to take place in the autumn of 2022.
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