UK: Life Sentence for Indian-Origin Man in 30-Year-Old Murder Case

LONDON, UK: Sandip Patel, a 51-year-old Indian-origin man, has been sentenced to life for the murder of Marina Koppel, a mother of two, 30 years ago. Patel was convicted after new DNA techniques, applied to a single hair found at the crime scene, conclusively identified him as the killer. In 1994, Patel stabbed Koppel over 140 times in her Westminster flat. He became a suspect in 2022 when investigators discovered a hair strand in a ring worn by Koppel.

During the sentencing at the Old Bailey court, Justice Cavanagh highlighted aggravating factors, including the use and attempted disposal of a knife, sustained violence, Koppel’s vulnerability, and Patel’s lack of remorse. The jury deliberated for over three hours before delivering a guilty verdict.

Forensic advancements allowed a DNA profile to be obtained from the hair on the ring, leading to Patel’s arrest in January 2023. Additional evidence, including fingerprints on a plastic bag and footprints matching those found at the crime scene, contributed to the case. Patel had also used a bank card stolen from Koppel shortly after the murder.

Marina Koppel’s family, devastated by her death, received justice decades later. In a victim impact statement, Koppel’s son expressed the pain of reliving the “saddest moment” of his life and emphasized that his mother had much life left to live. The case highlights the positive impact of forensic science and newer technologies in solving unsolved historic murders.