Victim: Marina Koppel in 1994 [Via MPS]

A KILLER who thought he had got away with the murder of a woman 30 years ago was found guilty yesterday, Thursday.

DNA evidence from a single strand of hair found at a flat in Chiltern Street, Marylebone, had led detectives finally to charge the original prime suspect in the case.

Sandip Patel, now 51, from St John’s Wood, was convicted at the Old Bailey of the murder of Marina Koppel in her flat in 1994. Then aged 39, she had been stabbed 140 times.

Her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary and Martin Koppel, said in a statement: “Marina Koppel, our sister-in-law, was an extremely bright, highly intelligent and charismatic person, who saw good in her family and all people she met. She wanted to give them everything they needed, especially her two children and nephew who grew up in Colombia. Her family and friends would have been in a much better place because of her abundance of energy for life had she not died.

“Marina was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a loving aunt, a daughter-in-law and a sister-in-law who was much loved by all of us as she loved all of us.

“Had Marina lived, all of the lives of her family and friends would have been enriched and further evolved. We have all suffered these many, many years because we lost Marina so early in life”.

Police issued these images after the hearing: above, ‘footmark in bloodstain’ and, below, ‘brown plastic bag in kitchen’ [Met Police]

Ms Koppel worked as a sex worker and masseuse in the flat during the week, and spent time with her husband in North­ampton on the weekends in what police said was an “unconventional relationship”.

She sent money home to her family in Colombia, including her two children who were being cared for by her family there.

Her body was found by her husband on August 8 1994, and investigating police kept evidence including a ring she was wearing and a plastic shopping bag on which they found fingerprints.

Mr Patel’s prints were on the bag but because he worked in a shop where it came from this was not enough evidence to bring a case against him, the Metropolitan Police Service said this week.

New techniques in DNA profiling meant hair strands found on Ms Koppel’s ring could be linked to Mr Patel, they said.

His DNA had showed up on the database after he was convicted in an ABH case in 2012. He was arrested in January last year.

Police said footprints were also matched to him as well and a bank card stolen from the flat was also used within half-a-mile of his house.

The jury found him guilty and sentencing is expected to take place at the same court today, Friday.

Dan Chester, a forensic specialist at the MPS “cold case” unit, said “Unsolved historic murders can be among some of the most complex and challenging cases for police to solve. However, today’s result provides an example where forensic science, newer technologies and collaborative working practices have had a positive impact in bringing a brutal killer to justice.

“This was a great team effort with the forensic scientists, fingerprint experts, the forensic manager and the investigating team all playing their part in solving Marina’s murder.

“Forensic techniques and technologies are constantly evolving, and the police will continue to review serious unsolved cases and, where possible, pursue new opportunities to enable both the prosecution of those responsible and to exonerate the innocent. This includes cases specifically related to violence against women.”

Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin, head of the specialist casework team for central specialist crime said: “Even though Patel has been convicted for the brutal murder of Marina, we may never know the reasons for his actions on that day. Unsolved murder cases are never closed and it is due to the developments of forensic techniques we have been able to identify the suspect for this barbaric crime.”