'Callous and despicable' mechanic who raped and murdered aspiring lawyer in her North Harrow home jailed

Peter Kibisu, 24, attacked and then throttled Elizabeth Nnyanzi, 31, while staying with her family at their home in Harrow.

The Nnyanzi family had given Kibisu a roof over his head when he was made homeless and treated him as a member of the family.

He and the victim were so close they called each other cousin, but after the "savage" attack Kibisu concocted a tissue of lies to try to get away with murder.

He left Ms Nnyanzi's lifeless body face-down on the floor of her bedroom while he went to work, then called 999 in the evening claiming he had just discovered her.

He sent Ms Nnyanzi a "calculated" text message after killing her, then mocked up a burglary to try to shift the blame away from himself.

But his story quickly unravelled when his DNA was found under Ms Nnyanzi's fingernails after the petite lawyer had tried desperately to fight him off.

Kibisu sobbed as he was jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 27 years behind bars.

Judge Richard Marks QC, the Common Serjeant of London, said: "Her family understandably have been utterly devastated by what became of her at your hands.

"She was a quite outstanding young woman of immense talent and ability with a life of huge potential ahead of her.

"She was variously been described as kind, caring, and loving, a person who went beyond the call of duty to help others, full of compassion, truly unique, tenacious, hard-working, beautiful and graceful.

"She was someone who extended humanity and love to all around her.

"What you did on that morning was truly shocking.

"Your actions were those of unspeakable wickedness and it's frankly hard to comprehend how you could have done that to anybody, still less to a young woman like her who was to all intents and purposes family."

He added the murder was a "horrendous betrayal of the hospitality extended to you", and his efforts to cover it up were "callous and despicable".

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said one of the Nnyanzi's neighbours heard the attack just before 8am on August 14 last year, telling police the victim has called out "oh my god" repeatedly.

"She heard a whining noise rather like a trapped animal in distress, lasting thirty or forty seconds", he said.

Mr Heywood said Kibisu pounced on Ms Nnyanzi after returning to the three-bedroom house in Northumberland Road following an all night drink and drugs party.

"He was very probably affected by drink, and in the short time before he then left once more - a period of no more than an hour and a half - he took the very gravest advantage of those who gave him a home by first sexually attacking and the killing Elizabeth Nnyanzi, one of the daughters of the house who was then alone in the property and in her own bedroom."

The Nnyanzi family had offered him a place to stay in November 2014 when he was left homeless, and treated him like an adopted son. He and Ms Nnyanzi, who had just started work at top international firm Herbert Smith Freehills, had been living alone for three weeks before the attack while her parents and sisters were out of the country.

The court heard Kibisu went to an all-night party with friends, but headed home after kissing a woman who then refused to have sex with him.

Kibisu raped and strangled his victim in her bedroom, and then headed out for a day's work as a mechanic, the court heard.

"At 6pm police were called by Mr Kibisu", said Mr Heywood.

"He said he had just come back from work and found his cousin lying on the floor.

"He said she wasn't breathing, she was cold, and he had seen her that morning and she was then OK.

"He also indicated that the rear door of the premises had been open when he returned from work."

Mr Heywood said Kibisu had used tools to pretend that the patio door had been forced open: "He had done so in advance of telephoning the police, very probably earlier in the day but possibly on his return."

"He was apparently extremely distressed, crying, sobbing, and at times shaking uncontrollably", he said of Kibisu when first quizzed by police.

He said Kibisu then repeatedly his story about finding Ms Nnyanzi's lifeless body to the detectives, and even called one of her sisters to tell her about the death.

Mr Heywood said police began to get suspicious when they noticed Ms Nnyanzi's underwear was inside out.

Kibisu also made a point of saying Ms Nnyanzi was in the shower when he left for work, and sent her a text message that morning saying: "Sorry I had to leave, I think you were in the shower."

Kibisu also had scratch marks on his face, neck, and arms, which he tried to blame on work injuries and a haircut gone wrong.

A post mortem revealed that Ms Nnyanzi, who was educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College, had been strangled and suspicion quickly fell on Kibisu.

He stuck to his story in interview, but pleaded guilty to murder in November last year and admitted the rape last month.

Mr Heywood added: "There were no difficulties between them but no intimacy between them, nor had there ever been.

"The age difference was significant, and she looked on him as a much younger cousin.

"When the specific question of physical contact between them was raised, the account from Elizabeth's eldest sister was Elizabeth would have been horrified and rejected any such approach."

In a scathing victim impact statement, Ms Nnyanzi's mother Coleen said: "The betrayal of trust has left me feeling nervous when I see anyone who resembles him."

She dubbed Kibisu "a cold, manipulative, and selfish person" who they had helped in his hour of need.

"How did Peter repay us? He raped and killed out daughter.

"He seems not in the least affected by his actions."

Ms Nnyanzi's sister Cressida added: "The defendant's family formed part of our wider family and were the only extended family we knew our entire life.

"Not only has the defendant savagely ripped the life away from my sister, he also destroyed the family support by tearing it in two."

Kibisu, who had looked on impassively as the case against him was outlined, broke down in tears as a letter to the Nnyanzi was read out.

"I can only express my deepest regret to you all for having caused you so much pain," he said.

"I also recognise sorry will never be good enough.

"I appreciate everything you have done for me, you took me like your son and I also know I abused the position of trust.

"This was not the way I intended to repay you for your kindness towards me."

Kibisu said he "accepted full responsibility" and regretted taking drink and drugs, adding that his situation should deter others from following the same path.

Courtney Griffiths QC, defending, said Kenyan-born Kibisu was a peaceful and fun person, and the murder had come as a "bolt from the blue".

He described it as a "mad period" and said Kibisu "just can't come to terms with it". Elizabeth studied medicine at Imperial College before following in her father's footsteps to pursue a career in law, starting work at top international firm Herbert Smith Freehills in May last year.

She also worked for several charities including Freedom From Torture, a centre based in Finsbury Park with links to Amnesty International, and was a keen singer who had been asked to perform in an opera at the Royal Albert Hall.

Her mother Coreen is a food technology teacher at Nower Hill School, Harrow, and her father Joseph is a solicitor at a legal aid firm.

The family held hands in the well of the court as the sentence was passed, then broke down in tears as Kibisu was led away to the cells.

Kibisu's address was given in court as the same Northumberland Road home that Elizabeth and her family had lived in for 15 years.