A prisoner is accused of slicing the top of a prison imam's head open with a knife and stabbing him five times in an alleged murder attempt. Ahmed Ali Alid, 47, a Moroccan national, is alleged to have attacked Roderic Vassie at HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire on August 8 of last year. Alid appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from HMP Wakefield and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, occasioning actual bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon. The court heard that the alleged attack on Imam Vassie occurred after Friday prayers.
Prosecutor Sally-Anne Russell stated that CCTV footage shows Alid walking over to Imam Vassie, slicing the top of his head, and then stabbing him an additional five times in the head and chest area. Alid was allegedly in possession of a piece of metal, considered an offensive weapon, inside HMP Full Sutton on the same day.
Following this incident, Alid was transferred to HMP Wakefield. There, on October 21 of last year, he is accused of assaulting another prison officer, Sarah Mitchell. Russell indicated that Alid allegedly threw multiple items at Ms. Mitchell when she opened his cell door. She sustained a broken nose and other injuries as a result of this alleged assault.
Alid, who was remanded back into custody and assisted by a Moroccan translator during the hearing, is scheduled to face trial at Newcastle Crown Court on November 25.