Passengers fled in "sheer terror" as a man armed with a knife launched an attack on a London-bound train, a court has heard.
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court → flee → train
Anthony Williams, 33, is accused of attempting to murder nine passengers and a member of staff on an LNER service travelling towards the capital on November 1 last year.
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Williams → accuse → November
Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court heard the alleged attack formed part of a wider two-day spree in which Williams is said to have targeted 14 victims across towns, cities and on the rail network.
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Williams → hear → network
Opening the prosecution case on Wednesday, Christopher Paxton KC described Williams as a "dangerous threat" who allegedly carried out a series of random knife attacks over the Halloween weekend.
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who → open → weekend
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He told the jury: "Across the Halloween weekend last year, to the many people he encountered, the defendant Anthony Williams posed a dangerous threat, marauding through towns and cities, on streets and trains alike, armed with a knife.
"
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defendant → read → knife
He stabbed many, seeking to end their lives with deadly intention, striking out at them when they were defenceless and in fear."
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they → stab → fear
Three people including a 14-year-old boy were stabbed in Peterborough on the evening of October 31, before Williams stabbed a 17-year-old at Pontoon Dock DLR station in London in the early hours of the following day, the court heard.
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court → include → day
Williams stabbed the 14-year-old when he walked past him on a footbridge near Henry Penn Walk, Peterborough, before lunging with his knife at Dawid Taborski, and then attempting to stab William Ogelby four times in the chest in the Rail World car park, jurors heard.
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jurors → stab → park
Once back in London, he approached a 17-year-old boy, Isaiah Idris, on the Docklands Light Railway at Pontoon Dock in London, and knifed him in the face and hand, the court was told.
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court → approach → face
Later on the Saturday evening, he stabbed 10 people on the train in a five-minute attack.
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he → stab → attack
Williams, who appeared at court via videolink, accepts that he carried out the attack but denies all 14 counts of attempted murder.
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he → appear → murder
Earlier judge Mr Justice Calver told jurors they must decide whether he intended to kill the people he stabbed, as the prosecution claims.
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prosecution → tell → people
Describing events on the train, Mr Paxton told the jury: “The defendant brought terror which resulted in them fleeing and some fighting for their lives.
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some → describe → lives
“In the face of that threat and the defendant’s sheer brutality some stood tall to protect others trying to de-escalate his rampage, defending themselves and putting themselves in harm’s way to protect strangers.”
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some → stand → strangers
Some locked themselves in toilets, while others tried to de-escalate the attack, the court heard.
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court → lock → attack
One of the victims, 73-year-old David Presland, was attacked after he fell to the ground, and other passengers fled, but eventually “ran out of train” in their bid to escape.
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passengers → attack → bid
“In sheer terror, the train passengers ran for their lives, hiding away in locked toilets, store cabinets, or under seats until many fleeing the defendant literally ran out of train; they could go no further; they were trapped on the moving train,” Mr Paxton said.
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Paxton → run → train
Some showed “extraordinary bravery” in trying to fend Williams off, grabbing frying pans or toasters to protect themselves, and asking Williams why he was doing what he was doing, he said.
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he → show → what
Scott Green, who had his dog Poppy with him, tried to grab the knife blade from Williams, who continued to stab him as he sat in his seat, while Kevin Deely was also attacked on the train and received stab wounds to his scalp and midriff, penetrating his stomach by more than 9cm.
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Deely → have → cm
Jurors were shown a CCTV clip of passenger Stephen Crean trying to wrestle the knife away from Williams.
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Crean → show → Williams
Mr Paxton said: “Mr Crean will tell you that the defendant told him, and I quote, ‘Do you want to die?’.
“We say clear evidence of the defendant’s intention to kill, as was the use of the knife to stab so many, and use to stab and cut Mr Crean in his hand, head and lower back.
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use → say → hand
Member of train crew Samir Zitouni tried to use a frying pan to stop Williams, but was stabbed multiple times, the court was told.
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court → try → Williams
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