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Serial rapist jailed for life after murdering victim in Walthamstow

Aman Vyas has been jailed for life

A serial rapist has been sentenced to life in prison for a series of rapes and the murder of his last victim in Walthamstow. 

Aman Vyas, 36, of no fixed address, has been jailed for a minimum of 37 years for raping four women, causing grievous bodily harm and murdering 35-year-old Michelle Samaraweera, who was from Hainault. 

He carried out the crimes between March and May 2009 before fleeing the country to India. He was extradited back to the UK in October 2019 to stand trial for his crimes. 

Vyas, dubbed the “E17 night stalker”,  would go out late at night and target lone women in the area around Markhouse Road, in Walthamstow. 

Michelle Samaraweera was murdered in Walthamstow

His first victim was a 59-year-old woman who was topping up her meter key on 24 March 2009.

Vyas followed her home and forced his way inside. When she asked him to leave, he repeatedly punched her and then raped her.

The victim was taken to hospital with bruising and swelling to her face. She was also bleeding in the white of one of her eyes. 

On 22 April 2009, Vyas threatened the second victim, a 46-year-old woman, with a knife and forced her down an alleyway. Again, he punched her in the face when she screamed and then raped her. 

The third attack happened a week later and involved a 32-year-old woman. She only remembers leaving a local supermarket and passing near St Saviour’s Church before waking up in hospital. 

However, a member of the public heard screaming and groaning coming from the graveyard during the early hours of the morning. 

Police found the victim with a deep cut to her head, she was hypothermic and her clothing was awry. She was found to have a fractured jaw and nose.

Vyas raped and murdered his final victim, Ms Samaraweera, on 30 May 2009. He followed her from a shop in Markhouse Road and down Queens Road to a small park. 

CCTV images of Michelle entering the shop, followed by Vyas a short time later 

At around 1.30am a member of the public heard screams coming from the playground, however, police were not called.

A dog walker later found Ms Samaraweera’s partially clothed body at around 5.15am. She had been raped and strangled to death. 

Vyas left the country and fled to India on 2 July 2009. Indian authorities arrested him two years later and extradition proceedings began to bring him back to the UK. 

However, it was not until October 2019 that Met officers escorted him from Indira Ghandi Airport, in New Delhi, to London Heathrow and he was arrested.

Vyas was found guilty of the above offences following a trial at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 30 July. 

Michelle’s sister Ann, said: “Aman Vyas has had over 11 years to come clean and admit to raping and murdering my sister, and even longer to admit to all the other heinous crimes committed against all the other innocent victims.

“He has also had all this time to reflect on his own life and address the issues that have turned him into the monster that he is but he didn’t. Instead he has lied and fabricated stories for his own benefit. He will never understand what he put my mother, sisters, children, loved ones, friends and myself through. 

“Michelle was always so thoughtful when it came to buying gifts for anyone, my daughter still has the beautiful blanket she gave her and she has slept with it every day up until now. One week before my daughter’s first birthday, I stayed up all night making colourful paper chains for her upcoming birthday party, only to wake up the next day to find out that my baby sister had been found dead in a children’s playground.

“I hope one day Vyas finds it in his heart to confess and truly be sorry for the pain inflicted on the innocent women he violated. They are the ones that are serving life sentences. Vyas potentially spending the rest of his life in prison is not a punishment but a privilege, it will never be enough.”

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