The trial of Anthony Williams, who is accused of 14 counts of attempted murder following a series of knife attacks across England, has opened at Cambridge Crown Court.
Prosecutors allege that the 33-year-old attacked people in Peterborough, on a Docklands Light Railway train in London and aboard an LNER service travelling from Doncaster to London over the Halloween weekend last year.
Williams denies the attempted murder charges. The jury was told he has admitted attacking people with a knife and intending to cause them really serious harm, but disputes that he intended to kill them.
He appeared by videolink from Rampton Hospital in Nottinghamshire, wearing a grey jumper and sitting with legal papers in a pale grey room. An intermediary was present to help him understand the proceedings when required.
Opening the case, prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said Williams had “posed a dangerous threat” as he moved through “towns and cities, on streets and trains alike, armed with a knife”.
He told jurors: “He stabbed many, seeking to end their lives with deadly intention, striking out at them when they were defenceless and in fear.”
Attacks began in Peterborough
The alleged rampage began on October 31, when a 14-year-old boy was stabbed at a footbridge in Peterborough. The boy cannot be named for legal reasons.
Two other men, Dawid Taborski and William Ogelby, were attacked nearby but escaped injury, the court heard.
Williams is then accused of travelling to London, where a 17-year-old was stabbed in the face while on a Docklands Light Railway service at Pontoon Dock.
The following evening, at 7.26pm on November 1, he allegedly boarded an LNER train carrying a large kitchen knife and a bottle of fortified tonic wine. Ten attempted murders are alleged to have taken place on the service.
Passengers were shown CCTV footage of people in coats and hats running through the carriages as Williams approached them, allegedly slashing and stabbing with the knife.
Some hid in locked toilets, storage cupboards and beneath seats, while others tried to flee along the train. Mr Paxton said passengers who found themselves trapped attempted to defend themselves using frying pans and toasters.
He said some also tried to calm the situation by asking Williams why he was attacking people and telling him that they loved him, but that the assault continued.
Among those allegedly attacked was 73-year-old David Presland, who was described by the prosecution as “defenceless and powerless” after falling to the floor.
Scott Green was sitting with his dog, Poppy, and was so frightened for his life that he tried to seize the knife blade, the jury heard.
Kevin Deely suffered wounds to his scalp and a cut four inches deep to his stomach.
Passengers confronted alleged attacker
Mr Paxton said there were “only so many places you can hide” on a moving train, and praised passengers who put themselves in danger to protect strangers.
Stephen Crean was described as being “half in and half out of a buffet serving area” when he decided Williams was “on a mission” and that he had to try to stop him.
CCTV allegedly showed Mr Crean launching himself at Williams and grappling with him along the carriage. He suffered injuries to his hand, head and lower back.
Train crew member Samir Zitouni also tried to stop Williams with a frying pan but was stabbed several times, the court was told.
The attack ended when the driver diverted the train to Huntingdon. Hundreds of passengers ran down the platform before Williams was arrested, with the prosecution attributing the outcome to the driver’s “quick thinking”.
Mr Justice Calver told jurors that they must decide whether Williams intended to kill the people he attacked, as alleged by the prosecution.
The trial is expected to last six weeks.
