Accused Train Attacker Receiving Treatment in High-Security Psychiatric Unit
A man facing 13 counts of attempted murder following alleged stabbing attacks on two separate trains is currently being treated in a high-security psychiatric hospital, a court has been informed today. Cambridge Crown Court heard that Anthony Williams, aged 32, is presently judged by a psychiatrist to be psychotic and unfit to enter a plea to the serious charges against him.
Defence Details Psychiatric Assessment and Hospital Transfer
Gillian Jones KC, representing Williams, disclosed to the court that her client had been transferred on January 7 to Rampton Hospital, located near Retford in Nottinghamshire. She elaborated, stating, ‘He is currently residing in the psychiatric intensive care unit… Currently he is not fit and that remains the case.’ Williams has been charged in connection with a series of incidents that culminated in a mass stabbing attack on a train before it halted at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire on the evening of November 1 last year.
Williams was not required to attend today's hearing, where Judge Mark Bishop, the Recorder of Cambridge and Peterborough, received updates regarding his mental health condition. Ms Jones explained that forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Cumming, acting on behalf of Williams, had previously assessed his ‘overall fitness’ prior to the move to Rampton Hospital.
Ongoing Treatment and Future Assessments Planned
However, she noted that Williams is now undergoing treatment, and a further evaluation concerning his fitness to plead must be conducted. Ms Jones added, ‘What is called his treatment journey is at a very early stage. He is currently still psychotic and experiencing symptoms.’ Psychiatrists at Rampton Hospital have recommended a three-month treatment period following his admission before he is reassessed.
During the 23-minute hearing, Ms Jones argued that the deadline for submitting a new report on his fitness should be set for April 21. Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC, however, expressed a desire for a quicker completion due to a potential trial date being fixed for June 27 this year.
Mr Paxton stated, ‘We still maintain the position we had. It is not so much about the time element but ensuring the court is able to manage the relevant issues in the case, and for a trial to take place.’ He further commented that Williams' condition appeared to be ‘embedded and entrenched’ and contended that it was premature to vacate the trial date, as it might proceed as a trial of the facts if Williams is deemed unfit to plead.
Judge's Ruling on Report Deadline and Further Hearing
Judge Bishop ruled that Dr Cumming should complete his report on Williams' fitness to plead by April 7 and scheduled a further hearing at Cambridge Crown Court for April 14. The judge acknowledged that this would necessitate Dr Cumming seeing Williams again before the conclusion of his three-month treatment at Rampton Hospital.
He added, ‘If he is not fit, then further directions can be given about any further report. If an issue of fitness needs to be investigated by a prosecution psychiatrist, then a timetable can be set on April 14. It is too early to break the trial fixture. But if the worse comes to the worse and the date in June has to be changed, then the court will manage it.’
Comprehensive List of Charges and Alleged Incidents
Williams was initially charged with the attempted murder of nine passengers and a train buffet worker on an LNER service from Doncaster to London's Kings Cross, before it stopped at Huntingdon on the evening of November 1. He was also accused of the attempted murder of another passenger on a DLR train at 12.45am on November 1 at Pontoon Dock DLR station in Silvertown, east London.
Prior to his first appearance at Peterborough Magistrates Court, additional charges were brought against him, including:
- Possessing a bladed article in relation to the two attacks
- A count of actual bodily harm over an alleged assault on a police officer in custody
On November 20, it was revealed that he had been charged with two more counts of attempted murder and an attempted wounding with intent to cause serious harm. These new attempted murder charges relate to alleged attacks on a 14-year-old boy on a footbridge above Henry Penn Walk, Peterborough, and on William Ogelby, 22, in the Rail World car park, Peterborough, on October 31.
The new attempted wounding charge pertains to an alleged attack on Dawid Taborski, 28, on the footbridge above Henry Penn Walk. Williams was also charged with affray at Ritzy’s Barbers in Queens Walk, Peterborough, on October 31, and the theft of a ‘four-pack of kitchen knives to the value of £15’ from an Asda store in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, on October 31.
Victims of the Alleged Train Attack Named
Among those Williams is accused of attempting to murder on the train that stopped at Huntingdon is hero Nottingham Forest fan Stephen Crean, 61, of Wimbledon, south London, who was reportedly stabbed repeatedly while trying to save other passengers. Williams is also accused of the attempted murder of Scunthorpe United player Jonathan Gjoshe, 22, and rail buffet worker Samir Zitouni, 48, who is understood to have used a frying pan grabbed from the galley kitchen to confront him, allowing passengers to flee to safety.
The other victims of the ten counts of attempted murder on the train have been previously identified as:
- Scott Bletcher
- David Presland
- Sachin Balakrishnan
- Michael Paffett
- Kevin Neely
- Rasza Aslam
- Scott Green
Williams has additionally been charged with common assault of a 31-year-old man on a train travelling between Hitchin, Hertfordshire, and Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, on November 1.
