A man accused of a series of stabbings in Cambridgeshire and London asked one of his alleged victims, "do you want to die?", a trial at Cambridge Crown Court has heard. Anthony Williams, 33, denies 14 counts of attempted murder related to incidents on October 31 and November 1, 2025.
The prosecution stated that on November 1, Williams attacked 10 passengers and staff on a train traveling between Peterborough and Huntingdon. The train was forced to make an emergency stop in Huntingdon. Opening the case, Christopher Paxton KC described how passengers fled in terror as Williams allegedly wielded a knife.
Paxton told the jury that one victim, 73-year-old David Presland, was attacked after falling to the ground and was "defenceless and powerless." Footage is expected to show Presland on the train floor with the defendant "wielding the knife" above him.
Another passenger, Stephen Crean, is said to have attempted to intervene. During this encounter, Williams allegedly asked Crean, "do you want to die?" The prosecution argued this, along with the use of the knife, demonstrated a clear intention to kill, regardless of whether all victims sustained severe injuries.
Williams is also accused of attempting to murder a 14-year-old boy and Dawid Taborski on a footbridge in Peterborough on October 31, and William Ogelby at a nearby car park shortly after. He then allegedly traveled to east London, where he is accused of stabbing a 17-year-old on a Docklands Light Railway train at Pontoon Dock. A witness reportedly heard Williams repeatedly ask the teenager, "Are you trying to beef with the devil?"
The prosecution emphasized that even if Williams perceived his victims in a certain way, it provided no lawful justification for the attacks. The trial continues, with Williams appearing via videolink from Rampton Hospital to ensure his effective participation in the proceedings. The judge, Mr Justice Calver, noted the four-hour round trip to court would be avoided by this arrangement.