Doncaster train attacker asked passenger ‘do you want to die?’ during rampage

A knifeman asked a train passenger “do you want to die?” as he stabbed 10 people on a London-bound train, a court has heard.

Jurors at Cambridge Crown Court were played a CCTV clip of passenger Stephen Crean trying to wrestle a knife from Anthony Williams on an LNER train on November 1 last year.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC told the court that Williams “brought terror” to the Doncaster to London service, stabbing 10 people during a “rampage”.

He 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.”

Williams had stabbed four people in the 24 hours before the train attack, and admits having intended to harm them but denies 14 counts of attempted murder.

Opening the prosecution case on Wednesday, Mr Paxton told jurors that Williams posed “a dangerous threat” to those he encountered on Friday October 31 and the following day.

He said: “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.

“He stabbed many, seeking to end their lives with deadly intention, striking out at them when they were defenceless and in fear.”

He attacked three people in Peterborough on the evening of October 31, stabbing a 14-year-old boy when he walked past him on a footbridge near Henry Penn Walk, Peterborough, before lunging with his knife at Dawid Taborski, the court heard.

Williams then attempted to stab William Ogelby four times in the chest in the Rail World car park, jurors were told.

He later travelled to London where in the early hours of the following day 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.

Later on the Saturday evening, he stabbed 10 people on the train in a five-minute attack.

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.

“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.”

Some fled “in sheer terror”, locking themselves in toilets, while others tried to de-escalate the attack, the court heard.

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.

“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.

Some showed “extraordinary bravery” in trying to fend Williams off, grabbing frying pans or toasters to protect themselves, and trying to speak to the attacker to stop him, he said.

Scott Green, who had his dog Poppy with him, tried to grab the knife 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, the court heard.

Member of train crew Samir Zitouni tried to use a frying pan to stop Williams, but was stabbed multiple times, the court was told.