Far, far too many attorneys have been attacked and killed this summer. First there were law firm bombings (including one where a lawyer was seriously injured), and then came senseless murders. This weekend, yet another young legal professional was slain in her own home, where her body was found by her parents.
Elizabeth Nnyanzi, 31, was a contract paralegal and aspiring attorney with Herbert Smith Freehills, a global firm based in the United Kingdom. According to police reports, she was found dead at about 6 p.m. on Friday evening in her family’s home in the London suburb of Harrow. Friends and neighbors were reportedly “mystified and horrified” by her sudden death.
The Daily Express has some additional details on Nnyanzi’s untimely death:
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The entrances to three houses remained behind a cordon and forensics officers were seen removing large quantities of evidence including a suitcase and clothes.
A black VW Golf that had been parked on the driveway of the house was lifted out and taken away after examination.
Ms Nnyanzi was pronounced dead at the scene on Friday.
A post-mortem examination on Sunday established the cause of death as asphyxiation.
Earlier this week, police arrested a 23-year-old auto mechanic named Peter Kibisu, who was later charged with Nnyanzi’s murder. Police sources have indicated that Nnyanzi and Kibisu knew each other. Kibisu is set to appear in court for a hearing on Thursday.
The Am Law Daily contacted Nnyanzi’s firm when news of her murder spread to the U.S.:
A spokeswoman for Herbert Smith Freehills in London told The Am Law Daily that Nnyanzi worked at the firm on a temporary contract as a paralegal in its disputes practice from late May until early June. “We are shocked and very sorry to hear of this tragedy, and our condolences are with Elizabeth’s family,” the firm said.
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We here at Above the Law would like to extend our condolences and sympathies to Elizabeth Nnyanzi’s family, friends, and colleagues. We sincerely hope that this young woman’s alleged killer is brought swiftly to justice.
Family tell of their shock at killing of ‘beautiful and talented’ City lawyer Elizabeth Nnyanzi [Evening Standard]
Woman found murdered at home in Harrow [Voice Online]
Shock as law firm ‘star’ is found killed [Daily Express]
Herbert Smith Freehills Trainee Lawyer Murdered in London [Am Law Daily]