Man denies attempted murder after DLR train stabbing

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 16:34 · Archive

Anthony Williams, 33, denies attempting to murder a 17-year-old boy on a DLR train in London in November.

Anthony Williams, 33, from Peterborough, is on trial at Cambridge Crown Court accused of 14 counts of attempted murder. He denies 10 counts relating to an incident on an LNER train in Huntingdon on 1 November, three counts for Peterborough on 31 October, and one count for a stabbing on a DLR train heading to Pontoon Dock station in the early hours of 1 November.

Williams has already pleaded guilty to 10 counts of wounding with intent relating to the LNER train incident, wounding with intent in relation to a man at Pontoon Dock DLR station on 1 November, and the wounding of a 14-year-old boy in Peterborough on 31 October, along with a number of other offences.

The court heard evidence about the DLR train attack on 17-year-old Isaiah Idris. Witness Macarena Lopez, who was on the train returning from a Halloween dinner, gave a video-recorded interview to jurors describing what she saw. She said the attacker was 'specifically targeting a boy' and 'was brandishing a knife'.

Lopez told police she observed the man 'fixated on the boy and started saying: "you are the devil" or "you are the demon"'. She said the attacker appeared to be 'seeing things that were not clear to the rest of us'. In her assessment, the man was having 'a psychotic episode'.

Idris, now 18, described in his own video interview how his attacker had repeatedly asked him: 'Are you beefing the devil?' He said his face had been 'sliced' and he blocked a second attack with his hand.

Lopez described an unusual moment when the train arrived at Pontoon Dock station: 'It's almost as if by magic his brain switched off, like the psychotic moment calmed down'. She said the attacker's behaviour changed abruptly when the train reached the station.

Judge Mr Justice Calver told jurors that whether Williams carried out the attacks is not in question. However, the jury must consider whether he intended to kill those individuals when he carried out the attacks. The case continues as Williams denies the attempted murder charges.

How it is being reported

• Train attacker believed victim was the devil, court hearsA witness said they saw Williams 'brandishing a knife' on the trainCambridgeshire Live · 3 Nov, 15:56
• Train attacker thought boy was 'devil', jury hearsA witness to a stabbing on a train says she felt the knifeman was having a "psychotic episode".BBC Cambridgeshire · 3 Nov, 13:50
• Train knifeman appeared to believe his victim was the devil, court toldA knifeman who stabbed a teenage boy on a DLR train in London appeared to believe his victim was the devil and was “seeing things that were not clear to the rest of us”, a court heard.Peterborough Telegraph · 3 Nov, 13:41
• Knife attacker thought victim, 17, was 'devil', court toldA witness to a stabbing on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock told police she believed the attacker had a "psychotic episode", a court heard.Ely Standard · 3 Nov, 11:42
• Knife attacker thought victim, 17, was 'devil', court toldA witness to a stabbing on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock told police she believed the attacker had a "psychotic episode", a court heard.Cambs Times · 3 Nov, 11:42

In this story: Anthony Williams · Isaiah Idris · Macarena Lopez · Cambridge Crown Court · Huntingdon · Peterborough · Pontoon Dock · London

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log