Sandip Patel, an Indian-origin man, received a life sentence for the murder of Marina Koppel, a woman in London, 30 years ago. Patel was connected to the crime through a strand of hair at the scene. He brutally stabbed Koppel approximately 140 times in her Westminster flat in 1994. Patel’s conviction came following innovative forensic work on the hair found on a ring worn by Koppel.
Marina Koppel, aged 39 at the time, maintained an unconventional yet happy marriage, working as a masseuse and occasional sex worker to support her family in Colombia. Her husband discovered her lifeless body on August 8, 1994, covered in blood, prompting a police investigation.
Initially, Patel’s fingerprints on a plastic bag at the crime scene were deemed insignificant, as he worked at the shop where the bag originated. Years passed, with the case remaining unsolved until advancements in forensic techniques enabled DNA profiling from a hair found on Koppel’s ring, linking it to Patel.
Specialist Crime detectives pursued the case, leading to Patel’s arrest in January last year. Further evidence, including footprints matching Patel’s and the use of Koppel’s stolen bank card near Patel’s residence, supported the prosecution’s case.
Also Read: Former MP CM Kamal Nath And His Son Nakul May Join BJP
Despite Marina Koppel’s husband passing away in 2005, her family found closure in Patel’s conviction. Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin emphasized the importance of forensic advancements in solving cold cases like Koppel’s, expressing satisfaction at finally bringing her killer to justice.
Marina Koppel’s sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary and Martin Koppel, mourned her loss, describing her as a cherished family member whose absence has profoundly affected their lives. While Marina’s loved ones continue to grieve her untimely death, they find solace in seeing justice served.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
