Jury Sees CCTV of Crew Member Fighting Off Train Attacker
On day two of a trial at Cambridge Crown Court, jurors watched footage from the Doncaster to London train on which ten men were stabbed.
Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court have seen CCTV of a train crew member using a frying pan to fend off a knifeman. The footage was shown on Thursday, the second day of the trial of Anthony Williams.
Williams, 33, of Langford Road, Peterborough, denies attempting to murder 10 people aboard the Doncaster to London King's Cross train, three people in Peterborough the day before, and a boy at a London railway station. The train made an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on 1 November 2025. The trial has heard that whether Williams carried out the attacks is not in question. Jurors must decide whether he intended to kill.
"Sheer courage and bravery"
Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC said crew member Samir Zitouni showed "sheer courage and bravery in seeking to save lives and defend others". He told the jury the attack on Zitouni was "prolonged, persistent and brutal". Zitouni was said to have told the defendant: "We love you, we can help you."
The court heard that both of Zitouni's lungs were punctured and that he needed four blood transfusions, chest drains and a ventilator. Paxton said passenger Raza Aslam had grabbed a frying pan but was stabbed in the hand, and that Zitouni began throwing things at the defendant and "saved" Aslam's life. Aslam told police that Williams "had the greatest delight on his face". "I saw his eyes expand with pleasure," Aslam said.
Other victims
Sachin Balakrishnan was stabbed in the forearm and chest, which punctured a lung and missed his heart by "just centimetres". Jurors heard a 999 call from Stephen Crean, who phoned from a locked toilet on the train and said he had been stabbed "all over". Scott Green, who was travelling with his dog Poppy, thought he was going to lose his life when the defendant tried to stab him a third time, Paxton said. In his words, the dog sent the defendant running off. Jurors were told that Williams had previously been bitten by a dog in an unrelated incident.
The court was also told of an attack on 73-year-old David Presland, who was stabbed in the back while on his hands and knees. Presland said he had been "helped by someone he knew as Kevin", believed to be Kevin Deely, another of those Williams is accused of trying to kill.
Paxton said the events were "all over in about five minutes", during which "10 men are stabbed by one man". Williams is also accused of attempting to murder a 14-year-old boy and Dawid Taborski on a footbridge in Peterborough on 31 October, and William Ogelby at a car park in the city shortly afterwards.
Source: BBC News