Man who murdered ex-partner after his prison release is jailed
Robert Sabat, a 60-year-old man, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his former partner, Dickiesha Nurse. The crime occurred just days after his release from prison, sparking scrutiny over recent government changes to automatic release policies.
Why it matters
The case highlights significant public and political concerns regarding the safety risks associated with early release programs for violent offenders.
Image source, Met Police Image caption, Robert Sabat killed Dickiesha Nurse days after he was released on licence after serving 40% of a sentence for knife possession and harassment
A violent offender who was released from jail the day after he was sentenced stabbed his former partner and then begged to be returned to prison because he was going to "go on a murder spree", the Old Bailey has heard.
Robert Sabat, 60, pleaded guilty to murdering 42-year-old mother-of-two Dickiesha Nurse, who he stabbed at her flat in Tulse Hill, south London, last October.
He had been released on licence from HMP Wandsworth on 17 October 2025 after being sentenced the day before to a 12-month jail term for possession of a bladed article and harassment. He had been in prison on remand since May 2025 when he was freed.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in