Student’s killer branded a coward after refusing to appear for sentencing

Wearing a balaclava and with his hood up, he waited for the 21-year-old, known as Ania, to finish her shift at a Las Iguanas restaurant before following her and a young man.

Akpomedaye was absent on Wednesday as he was jailed at Kingston Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 29 years, having not been present at the trial that ended with his murder conviction.

Former justice secretary Dominic Raab had committed to preventing people convicted of the most serious crimes from refusing to appear before the families of their victims after a series of cases provoked outrage.

Ms Jedrkowiak’s sister, Katareyna Glowacka, 39, said Akpomedaye’s sentence should have been longer as he is a “danger” to society.

Speaking about his non-attendance in court, she added: “It just shows his true character, that he is a proper coward.

“He committed a crime but he is not able to face us, he’s not able to look us in the eyes.

“For me personally, it’s really disrespectful that he killed my sister and he didn’t show any remorse.

“He never gave any statement why he did it, he just killed her and went about his life like nothing ever happened, which is horrible.”

Heartbreaking

She was tearful in court as a statement describing her “despair, helplessness and complete disbelief” was read out.

She said: “I am also very angry. I have been robbed of the opportunity to have a sister in my life.”

Ms Glowacka, who was pregnant when her sister died, added: “It is heartbreaking that my little baby boy will never meet his auntie.”

She said her “smart, tenacious and ambitious” sister was also “caring, kind and thoughtful”, and was a gifted musician.

Ms Jedrkowiak’s mother Danuta, who lives in Poland, said in a statement read to the court: “He, this murderer, is still alive and will be for many more years, despite the fact he took my daughter’s life.”

She said the “barbaric” way her daughter died meant her heart “broke with grief and despair”.

Jack Maskell, 21, who worked at Las Iguanas, was walking with Ms Jedrkowiak when she was murdered after the pair had become “more than just friends”.

He told the court: “I have been left with indescribable memories that can never been erased.

“It was dark and cruel. I will never unsee what he did to her.”

Judge Rajeev Shetty told Ms Jedrkowiak’s family: “You have been present in court for the entire trial and sentence and heard the most painful evidence of Ania’s last moments.

“I cannot imagine the horror and upset you have experienced and I know, as has been said, that Ania’s premature death will leave a hole in your lives that can never be closed.

“What I can say is that you have behaved with dignity. The sentence cannot do much to help you grieve or recover, save that I hope it at least completes a process of justice being done.”

Akpomedaye, who was born in Nigeria, met Ms Jedrkowiak online in January 2021 and they dated for around a year before she ended the relationship.

In the weeks before her murder, Akpomedaye, who could not accept the break-up, began trying to manipulate her by threatening suicide.

Kerim Fuad KC, defending, said: “It is truly tragic and awful that a relationship once so full of hope and love can have come to this.

“The photographs that the jury were shown of the defendant and Ms Jedrkowiak speak of happiness, love and hope for the future.

“Her life was to be ended by the defendant’s act borne of rejection and jealousy.”

He told the court that Akpomedaye had been “slowly falling down a dark hole”, living in maggot-infested “squalor” and facing financial difficulty.

In the weeks before the murder he told Ms Jedrkowiak: “We will be together no matter what. I will find you.”

Police say he has never shown any remorse for the murder, refusing to answer officers’ questions or attend court for his trial or sentencing.

A promised law to pressure killers to appear in court for sentencing is at risk of being shelved after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to commit to the legislation earlier this month.