A passenger who was stabbed multiple times during a knife attack on a train has told jurors that he believed he was dying. Scott Bletcher gave live evidence at Cambridge Crown Court regarding the incident on a York to London King’s Cross LNER service on 1 November last year.
Train Attack Testimony
Anthony Williams, 33, of Langford Road, Peterborough, denies 10 counts of attempted murder following the attacks that led to an unscheduled stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. He also faces four additional attempted murder charges related to earlier incidents in Peterborough and London. While the defense does not contest whether Williams carried out the attacks, jurors must decide whether he intended to kill.
Bletcher testified that he was travelling alone after Christmas shopping in Newark-on-Trent when he noticed people running down the aisle after Peterborough. He initially remained seated, assuming it was a disagreement, before seeing a knife held at eye level in front of him. Bletcher stated he felt trapped with no escape and suffered a scratch to the head before moving his arm to shield his face, receiving no words from the attacker.
The court heard that Bletcher was stabbed five more times before the attacker lowered the knife and moved to the next carriage. Bletcher called 999 to report the chaos and hid in a bicycle rack. Upon reaching Huntingdon, he located police officers and informed them he had been stabbed. He told the court that as he grew tired, the sounds of sirens felt underwater, leading him to think, “this is what it feels like to die.”
Staff and Passenger Accounts
Earlier in the trial, jurors viewed a video interview with train worker Samir Zitouni, who watched from the public gallery. Zitouni sustained punctured lungs and required four blood transfusions, chest drains, and ventilator support. He recounted fighting back with a frying pan and other items like trolleys because he did not want to give up until the train stopped. Zitouni stated he offered the attacker help, telling him, “No, man. No, man,” and previously telling the defendant, “We love you, we can help you.”
Passenger Michael Gawthorpe, who was in the same carriage as Zitouni, said in a video interview that he pleaded with the attacker to calm down and put the knife down for the sake of their children. Gawthorpe recalled throwing a large toaster at Williams after someone passed it to him. Christina Jones, another passenger, wept during her video interview as she demonstrated hiding behind her handbag and described throwing a hot drink at Williams.
Prosecutors allege that prior to the train incident, Williams tried to kill three people in Peterborough on 31 October and attempted to murder a teenager on a DLR train in east London in the early hours of 1 November.
The trial continues.
