The best friend of a woman apparently murdered by a stranger has revealed their final text messages to each other.

Zara Aleena, 35, a law graduate, was found with serious head injuries in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of Sunday morning and later died in hospital.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police have described it as an “opportunist stranger attack”.

Ms Aleena’s friend Lisa said they were meant to meet over the weekend but had to rearrange.

A screenshot of their final text messages shows a photo of a sunset sent by Lisa.

Ms Aleena replied that it was “beautiful”, adding: “Miss your beautiful face this weekend xx can’t wait to see you next weekend xxx.”

The pair had been best friends for 17 years and “spent most weekends together”, Lisa said, describing herself as “completely broken”.

“I am shocked, I am angry, I feel sick to my stomach,” she posted.

“We were meant to be together this weekend but I had to cancel and arranged to meet next weekend.

“I wish I had met her this weekend. She got f***ing murdered walking home!”

Lisa continued: “I will never see her again. I will never hear her voice again. We always spoke every day. I will never get over this, ever.”

Referring to the attacker, Lisa wrote: “I want to look him in the eye and ask: why? May he get tortured in prison!”

She went on: “When will our streets be safe? Something needs to be done!”

Ms Aleena was reportedly working as an administrative officer at the Royal Courts of Justice.

In her profile on LinkedIn, she wrote: “My excellent interpersonal skills mean that I like people and they like me. I have strong organisational skills.”

She was “just a kind soul, the sweetest girl, she could never harm a fly”, her friend Sophie told the BBC.

Another friend, Nadia, told The Times she was a “very gentle soul” and “very helpful to everyone and her neighbours”.

Lisa finished her post by writing: “Now you rest in peace, beautiful angel.”

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