By Eirian Jane Prosser and Arthur Parashar Published: 05:47 EDT, 28 August 2024 | Updated: 06:09 EDT, 28 August 2024
A prison teacher accused of having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with Zara Aleena’s murderer has appeared in court alongside the killer.Hayley Jones, 33, is accused of acting in a way ‘which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust’ during a relationship with Jordan McSweeney, 31, who is serving a minimum term of 33 years in HMP Belmarsh for the murder of Ms Aleena.McSweeney, who killed the 35-year-old law graduate as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of June 26 2022, nine days after he was released from prison, appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court via video-link today.Jones, who covered her face as she appeared in court in person, is accused of misconduct in a public office between March 6 2023 and April 7 2023 – an offence which could lead to life imprisonment. Hayley Jones, 33, is accused of acting in a way ‘which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust’ during a relationship with Jordan McSweeney Jordan McSweeney, 31, is serving at least 33 years in HMP Belmarsh for the murder of Ms Aleena McSweeney was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting sexually assaulting and murdering Ms Aleena (pictured). In November 2023, he won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence to 33 yearsMcSweeney has been charged with encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence.During a short hearing on Wednesday, the case was adjourned until September 25 at Woolwich Crown Court.Jones was granted conditional bail and must not contact McSweeney or visit the prison where he is being held.Judge Sweet said: ‘Your case has got go to the Crown Court and your date for next hearing at Woolwich will be 25 September.’You now have conditional bail, not to contact directly or indirectly Jordan McSweeney and you must not go to any prison in which he’s incarcerated.’The case comes after a jury inquest ruled in June that failures ‘across multiple agencies’ contributed to Zara’s death.Prolific criminal McSweeney, who had 28 convictions for 69 crimes prior to Ms Aleena’s murdeer, had been released from prison on licence just nine days before the killing, but had breached his conditions and was recalled to prison on 22 June.The police were given powers to arrest him two days later, but delays in the necessary paperwork meant the police were unable to arrest him before he killed the law graduate. Jones is accused of misconduct in a public office between March 6 2023 and April 7 2023 – an offence which could lead to life imprisonment McSweeney ambushed Ms Aleena and punched her in the back of the head before dragging her into a driveway and kicking her as she lay on the ground as she went home after a night out in June 2022.As the innocent woman lay dying, the brute sexually assaulted her before grabbing her handbag, mobile phone and keys. He then walked away but returned moments later to deliver the fatal final blows.Ms Aleena died in hospital from a blunt force head injury and neck compression, a court heard.McSweeney was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting sexually assaulting and murdering Ms Aleena.In November 2023, he won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence to 33 years.This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
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Pictured: Blonde prison teacher, 33, accused of having ‘inappropriate relationship’ with Zara Aleena’s killer Jordan McSweeney – as she appears alongside him in court