Boy, 14, Recounts Stabbing During Halloween Rampage in UK Court
Defendant accused of 14 assaults, including multiple stabbings on a train, denies attempted murder charges.
A 14-year-old boy described being stabbed by a man with "eyes wide open" while trick-or-treating, as recounted in a UK court case involving a weekend rampage. The teenager was attacked on a footbridge in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, the first of 14 assaults allegedly committed by Anthony Williams, 33.
Williams has admitted to 12 charges of wounding with intent and two of attempted wounding with intent, but denies 14 counts of attempted murder. The court heard that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was with a friend when Williams "just pulled out a knife and stabbed me." The terrified pair fled and hid in bushes before calling emergency services.
The boy told police that Williams appeared to be under the influence, stating, "His eyes were wide open, like he was on something. I don’t think he was well." He described the force of the blow to his chest as "strong – it pushed me back a bit. He was using his full force."
The series of attacks continued the following day, October 31 last year, when Williams allegedly boarded an LNER train in Peterborough. Passengers and a train worker, Samir Zitouni, reportedly showed bravery attempting to stop Williams as he moved through carriages, armed with a knife and a bottle of wine. Zitouni is said to have used items including a frying pan and a toaster in a "defensive blockade."
Footage shown to the jury depicted passengers fleeing through the train carriages in terror. Some passengers reported Williams muttering about "the devil" and "power," and warning that "Everyone’s gonna die today." Another passenger, Raza Aslam, described Williams as having "the greatest delight on his face, I saw his eyes expand with pleasure."
The court heard that the train driver made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where Williams was arrested by armed police who used a taser. Bodycam footage showed the arrest.
Williams is accused of attempting to murder 10 people on the LNER service and four others from the preceding day. The prosecution stated that the issue in the case, particularly concerning the attempted murder charges, relates to Williams's intention, asserting that he did intend to kill. The defense has indicated that Williams has "some mental health issues which may or may not become relevant during this trial."
During his time in custody, Williams also admitted to punching a police officer, an incident that has led to a charge of causing actual bodily harm.
The trial continues at Cambridge Crown Court.
