Anthony Williams, 33, has pleaded guilty to wounding 10 people in a mass stabbing on a London-bound train, but continues to deny charges of attempted murder. He appeared via video-link from custody at a pre-trial review hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday (19 October).
Guilty Pleas to 14 Counts
During the hearing, Williams entered guilty pleas to 14 newly put charges, comprising 12 counts of wounding with intent and two counts of attempting to wound with intent. He was also rearraigned on seven counts to which he had previously pleaded not guilty.
Among the charges admitted was the wounding with intent of 10 people injured on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service travelling from Doncaster to London on the evening of November 1 last year. The train was brought to a stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, following the violent incident.
Additional Offences Admitted
In addition to the train stabbings, Williams pleaded guilty to several other offences spanning late October and early November last year. These include:
- Wounding with intent of a man and possession of a bladed article at Pontoon Dock DLR Station in east London in the early hours of November 1.
- Wounding with intent of a 14-year-old boy, attempting to wound two men aged 22 and 28, affray at a barber shop, and possession of a bladed article in public places including Henry Penn Walk, the Rail World car park, and Queen's Walk - all located in Peterborough.
- Common assault on a Govia Thames Link Train (GTR) service between St Pancras and Biggleswade on November 1.
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) against a male police officer while in custody on November 2.
- Theft of knives from an Asda store in Stevenage on October 31, and possession of a knife on a train between Peterborough and Huntingdon on November 1.
Denial of Attempted Murder Charges
Despite the series of guilty pleas, Williams continues to deny 14 counts of attempted murder. These include 10 counts relating to the LNER train incident, three linked to events in Peterborough, and one stemming from the incident at Pontoon Dock DLR station.
Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC informed the court: "Those guilty pleas do not resolve the indictment so there will be a trial."
The judge, Mr Justice Calver, confirmed that Williams will stand trial at Cambridge Crown Court for the remaining attempted murder charges starting next Monday (October 26).
