A serial rapist dubbed the 'E17 night stalker', Aman Vyas, terrorised Walthamstow in east London during the spring of 2009, turning a small area near his home into a hunting ground for vulnerable women. Between March and May 2009, Vyas committed six counts of rape against four women, often involving grievous bodily harm, as detailed in the trial at Croydon Crown Court.
The most horrific of these attacks occurred on 30 May 2009, when Vyas targeted 35-year-old Michelle Samaraweera. After she visited a supermarket around 1am, Vyas stalked and attacked her in a children's playground, where he raped and strangled her to death. Her body was discovered shortly after 5.15am by a dog walker. Vyas, then aged 24, fled the UK the same day following a Crimewatch appeal about the murder, purchasing a one-way ticket to India.
Vyas evaded capture for two years until his arrest in India in 2011. The breakthrough came when his former boss provided police with a water bottle that Vyas's brother had drunk from, revealing partial DNA linking it to a male sibling involved in the crimes. This prompted a lengthy extradition process; Vyas became only the third person and second Indian national extradited from India to the UK, following an eight-year legal battle involving around 30 hearings.
During the trial, prosecutors described Vyas's actions as a 'series of violent rapes'. Mr Justice Bryan, handing down the sentence, addressed Vyas directly: 'In the spring of 2009, there was a stranger rapist prowling the streets of Walthamstow looking for his prey. You were that rapist.' He added that Vyas had stalked Samaraweera before killing her, stating: 'You were willing to kill in pursuit of your sexual perversions and in Michelle you found a victim who fought back. She had to be silenced and silenced she was.'
The investigation was extensive, involving over 1,100 DNA swabs, 1,815 addresses visited, and more than 60,500 posters distributed displaying the suspect's image. Detective Sergeant Shaleena Sheikh commended the victims' bravery: 'I would like to commend the dignity and bravery shown by his victims and their families throughout this process, which has lasted over 10 years.' Michelle's sister, Ann Chandradasa, expressed relief at the outcome: 'I’m just glad we have finally got justice for Michelle and I’m glad that the other victims have got justice as well. It’s partial closure.'
Vyas was sentenced on Thursday in 2020 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 37 years for the murder, rapes, and grievous bodily harm. He had already served just over two years on remand in India and the UK, making him eligible for release in 34 years, though the judge indicated he may never be freed. The Metropolitan Police led the investigation.