MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Episode: "Cops and Robbers" (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE)

Release Date: February 16, 2026
Host: John Allen (MrBallen)

Episode Overview

In this gripping true crime episode, MrBallen recounts the chilling story of Nisha Patel Nasri, a respected London hairdresser and volunteer police officer (special constable), whose brutal and perplexing murder in 2006 sent shockwaves through her community and the UK. The episode delves into the complexity of the investigation, with police exploring multiple suspects and motives—from vengeful criminals to business disputes—only to unravel a far more sinister and personal conspiracy at the story’s heart.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Nisha Patel Nasri (02:26)

• Nisha's Background: A 29-year-old hairdresser with her own thriving one-room salon in her brother's house in suburban London.
• Police Service: Nisha was also a special constable, a volunteer police officer role her brother, Kayton, strongly discouraged due to risks and lack of weapon authorization.
  • Quote: "[Kayton] had pleaded with her not to join the special constable program because he felt like the work was way too dangerous." — MrBallen (05:41)
• Recent Attempted Break-In: Just days before her murder, Nisha bravely confronted three men trying to break into her house, an incident that left her anxious.

2. The Night of the Crime (09:00)

• May 11, 2006: After working a long shift, Nisha spends the evening with her husband, Fadi, and her brother, Kayton, discussing family and preparations for an upcoming wedding.

• Fadi’s Departure: Nisha and Fadi return home; Fadi later goes out to play snooker (pool), leaving Nisha alone.

• The Attack: After getting ready for bed, Nisha hears footsteps, arms herself with a flashlight, and investigates—only to be viciously stabbed by an intruder.

  • Quote: "He asked her if she was okay, and she just choked out that she'd been stabbed. But before she could say who stabbed, she collapsed onto the pavement, clutching this bloody spot on her thigh." — MrBallen (12:25)

3. Immediate Aftermath and Crime Scene (13:58)

• Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola arrives: Notes lack of forced entry or robbery, with valuables left untouched.
  • Quote: "There was a trail of blood on the driveway... but the front door and windows had no signs of forced entry... even a wallet and a stack of cash sitting out in the open, totally untouched." — MrBallen (15:34)
• Initial Theories: Investigators consider if Nisha’s police role or recent break-in attempt made her a target.

4. Investigative Turns & Red Herrings (17:24; 24:40)

• Husband’s Alibi & Feud: Fadi claims alibi (friend verifies they played snooker), presents threatening voicemails from a rival limo company owner in Scotland (24:40).

• Discovery of the Murder Weapon: A knife matching the missing one from Nisha's kitchen is found in a nearby storm drain a month after the murder (25:23).

  • Hard Evidence: Forensic confirmation that the knife had Nisha’s blood.

• CCTV Footage: Detectives identify a gray Audi with distinguishing details (antenna, broken light) near the scene, believed to have been used by the killer (27:46).

5. Breakthroughs & Shifting Suspicions (29:18–34:00)

• Fadi’s Affair: Police searching Fadi's phone (seized as evidence) find a photo of another woman's thigh, revealing he was having an affair with Laura Mockin, a Lithuanian sex worker (30:00).

• Possible Motives: Detectives consider Laura as the possible instigator or direct perpetrator (32:40), but she has an alibi.

• Family Liaison: Nisha’s brother Kayton reveals suspicions about Fadi’s criminal associations and “sketchy” contacts.

6. The Truth Unraveled (38:00)

• The Hit Plot: Detectives trace calls from Fadi’s contacts to Roger Leslie, a drug dealer, and then to the driver of the gray Audi.
• Sequence of Events:

  • A hitman enters Nisha’s home using a key, stabs her when discovered, flees in gray Audi with driver, and disposes of the knife.

  • The killer immediately calls Roger Leslie (the intermediary), who then calls Fadi—the true mastermind of the plot.

  • Motive: Fadi, deeply in debt and wishing to start a new life with his mistress, orchestrates the murder to claim life insurance.

  • Quote: “Fadi did not want to start a family with her. He wanted to kill her and move on.” — MrBallen (42:29)

7. Resolution and Justice (43:35)

• Convictions: Four men were charged:
  • Fadi Nasri (husband/mastermind)
  • Roger Leslie (drug dealer/intermediary)
  • Jason Jones (hitman)
  • Tony Emanuel (driver; acquitted)
• The three main conspirators were sentenced to life in prison.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Nisha’s Heroism:
  "But these men had picked the wrong house to rob because...she was a special constable...she'd just gone out to confront the men herself. And they'd been so caught off guard...that they'd literally just turned and ran away." — MrBallen [05:20]
• On Community Impact:
  "The other officers looked very somber, a little bit confused. Scola asked one of his colleagues what was going on here, and she would tell him that the victim, Nisha, from last night's murder, was one of their own." — MrBallen [18:58]
• On the Conspiracy’s Heart:
  "It turned out that Fadi was involved with a bunch of criminals, but they weren't after him. They were his friends...He'd paid Roger Leslie to kill Nisha for the life insurance money." — MrBallen [42:00]

Timeline of Key Events with Timestamps

| Time | Segment / Development | |:--------:|:------------------------------------------------------| | 02:26 | Nisha's background and special constable service | | 05:20 | Account of recent attempted break-in | | 09:00 | Family gathering, wedding discussions, Fadi’s behavior | | 11:23 | Nisha attacked at home | | 13:58 | Detective Scola arrives, surveys scene | | 17:24 | Focus shifts from robbery to possible targeted attack | | 24:40 | Discovery of the murder weapon | | 27:46 | CCTV catches key clues: gray Audi car | | 29:18 | Affair with Laura Mockin revealed | | 32:40 | Laura interrogated, maintains innocence | | 34:55 | Suspicious contacts in Fadi’s phone — Roger Leslie | | 38:00 | Police uncover murder-for-hire plot | | 42:00 | Entire plot outlined: Fadi orchestrated the killing | | 43:35 | Convictions and sentences announced |

Summary & Takeaways

This episode painstakingly examines how seemingly random violence can mask calculated, deeply personal betrayal. What began as a whodunit with hints of a robbery, professional rivalry, and police work politics ultimately unravels as a chilling case of marital treachery. Through meticulous investigative work, persistence, and forensic analysis, the dark truth is exposed: Nisha Patel Nasri was murdered in a plot driven by greed and infidelity, orchestrated by the very person she hoped to build a family with.

MrBallen’s storytelling—informed, compassionate, and unflinching—lays bare the devastating consequences of deception and the relentless pursuit of justice.