Every third day, in our #EveryThreeDays campaign, I write about a woman killed by a man. Previously this month, we have remembered Miriam Nyazema, Denisa Silmen, Jan Bennett, Simonne Kerr, Laura Holden, Jane Wiggett, Katelyn Parker, Elife Beqa and on the 28th of August, Shana Grice.
Today we remember Elizabeth Nnyanz aged just 31, murdered in August 2015. Elizabeth was a bright, bubbly woman who worked as a paralegal at London firm Herbert Smith Freehills. Elizabeth’s mum, Coreen had a friend whose son was homeless and out of kindness, she took him in. His name was Peter Kibisu, aged 23, who worked as a mechanic.
Whilst Coreen was away Kibisu murdered Elizabeth in her bedroom. He was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to rape and murder. With the Daily Mail reporting this:
A victim impact statement from Coleen said her life had been ‘shattered’ and said: ‘Elizabeth was a kind, caring and loving eldest daughter who used her extensive knowledge to help others. She would always go beyond the call of duty to help others. Now we no longer benefit from her guidance and help, and we can’t begin to comprehend how Peter Kibisu has turned on us. At the request of his mother Mary, we helped him in his hour of need. He was homeless and we took him in. How did he repay us? He raped and killed our daughter.
Jailing Kibisu for life, Judge Richard Marks said his crimes were ‘a horrendous betrayal of the trust and hospitality’ extended to him.
‘That is a home in which you two lived – the situation being your respective mothers had been friends for very many years. When you found yourself homeless in around November 2014, Elizabeth’s mother, out of the kindness of her own heart, took you in. Such was the closeness of your relationship with them, you referred to Elizabeth as being your cousin and her mother as being your aunt. You had a close friendship with Elizabeth, albeit she was about seven years older than you. There was no suggestion at all it was one involving intimacy.’
Judge Marks said Kibisu had tried covering up he was responsible for her death.
‘What had happened, was that shortly after you came home that morning substantially under the influence of drink and drugs, you had raped and then strangled her. She was a talented musician, a deeply loved sister and daughter and her family have been understandably devastated by what became of her at your hands.’
Judge Marks added that she was an ‘outstanding’ individual with huge potential ahead of her. What you did that morning was truly shocking. Your acts 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 person like her, who was to all intents and purposes family.
Wearing a grey suit and blue tie today, Kibisu sobbed as his handwritten letter was read out saying: ‘I can only express my deepest regret to you all for having caused you so much pain, but also recognise sorry will never be good enough. I know nothing can bring Elizabeth back and for this, I am truly sorry and remorseful. I appreciate everything you have done for me. You took me in, like a son and I abused the position of trust. This was not the way I intended to repay you for all your kindness.’
Elizabeth Nnyanz
#EveryThreeDays
