Husband Convicted of Murdering Police Officer Wife After Suspicious TV Appeal

When special constable Nisha Patel-Nasri was found dying in the street metres from her Wembley home in May 2006, suspicion initially pointed towards a botched burglary. However, the investigation soon shifted focus to her husband, Fadi Nasri.

A key turning point in the case, as revealed in a Channel 5 documentary, was Nasri's conduct during a televised appeal for information about his wife's killer. Detectives noted his seemingly emotionless delivery and a "bit of a smirk" on his face, which raised significant concerns among the investigating officers.

Nisha's family also expressed unease about Fadi's demeanor during the Crimewatch interview, recalling his "dead-eyed and arrogant" statement: "Someone has got to know something." This apparent nonchalance began to direct the investigation towards Nasri himself.

At the time of her death, Nisha, a 29-year-old officer and owner of a hairdressing business, was described as vibrant and sociable. She had recently chased off three young men attempting a burglary at their home just a week before her murder. However, darker aspects of the couple's life soon emerged, including threats to their lives, Nasri's involvement in an escort business, and a life insurance policy taken out on Nisha.

The events leading up to the murder began on May 11, 2006, when Fadi Nasri left his wife at home to play snooker with a friend. Shortly after he departed, neighbors reported hearing screams as Nisha fled into the street, where she was pursued and fatally stabbed with her own kitchen knife. Phone data confirmed Fadi was not at the property when the attack occurred.

Initial inquiries focused on the recent attempted burglary, with detectives considering the possibility that missing house keys were taken by the intruders. However, evidence at the scene, such as a large sum of cash left untouched, seemed inconsistent with a robbery.

Nasri provided police with a potential distraction by reporting that his wife had been threatened by a woman over his limousine hire business. He claimed he had to travel to Glasgow to retrieve a vehicle he had sold, but this line of inquiry was quickly dismissed by police.

Review of CCTV footage near the crime scene revealed a suspicious silver Audi A4, which stopped briefly before leaving. Detectives identified an unusual bee sting aerial on the car, a detail that would later prove crucial.

During the Crimewatch appeal, Nasri's behavior continued to draw scrutiny. Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola noted that "some of my staff came to me and said they weren't happy with the way Fadi Nasri had come across and thought perhaps he was hiding something."

Further investigation into Fadi's phone uncovered a photo of a woman's leg, leading him to admit to an affair. It was revealed he was in debt, operating an escort agency where he met his mistress, and had recently taken out a £350,000 life insurance policy on Nisha.

Detectives also discovered Nasri possessed a second, undisclosed phone. This device revealed increasing contact with Roger Leslie, described as an "intimidating looking gangster." Leslie, in turn, had contact with Tony Emmanuel, a nightclub bouncer with underworld connections.

Emmanuel was identified as the driver of the silver Audi A4 seen near the crime scene. He eventually admitted to driving Jason Jones to the location, though he claimed ignorance of the motive. Subsequent analysis linked Leslie, Emmanuel, and Jones to Fadi Nasri, establishing a conspiracy to murder.

Fadi Nasri, Roger Leslie, and Jason Jones were convicted of Nisha Patel-Nasri's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Tony Emmanuel was acquitted. Nisha's family has spoken about the enduring pain of her loss and the trial.