Huntingdon train attack trial: police noted suspect's schizophrenia after arrest
Officers noted Anthony Williams appeared to have schizophrenia after his arrest following a knife attack on a London-bound train. Williams, 33, denies 14 counts of attempted murder.
Officers noted schizophrenia symptoms after Huntingdon train attack arrest
Police officers who dealt with Anthony Williams following his arrest noted he was suffering from schizophrenia, Cambridge Crown Court has heard, as reported by bbc.co.uk.
Williams, 33, of Langford Road in Peterborough, denies 14 counts of attempted murder — including 10 counts relating to a knife attack on a London-bound train that made an emergency stop at Huntingdon railway station in Cambridgeshire on 1 November last year.
PC Caitlin Brown, who was involved in transporting Williams to hospital and then to the police station, said in a statement that he "appeared to be talking to himself" and made references to the devil. Jurors were shown footage of his arrest in the station car park, and heard that a Taser and a baton gun were deployed against him during the incident.
The arresting officer's statement noted that Williams said something along the lines of "kill me, kill me" at the time of his arrest.
PC Matt Panks, another officer involved in the transport of Williams, said in his statement that the suspect was "acting strangely, appeared completely unphased by what had occurred… he was rocking and laughing." Panks also said he heard Williams ask, "Do you reckon it was worth it?" — a question Williams then repeated, before being reminded he was under caution.
Custody sergeant: 'Didn't appear intoxicated'
Sgt James Cox, who served as custody sergeant at Parkside police station in Cambridge when Williams arrived, gave evidence in person to the jury. He said Williams was "treated as a vulnerable adult" and authorised support from an appropriate adult, with officers maintained on constant watch.
Under questioning from defence barrister Gillian Jones KC, Cox confirmed he had been told Williams "suffers from psychosis" and that the suspect took medication. Cox also said it was his assessment that Williams "didn't appear to be intoxicated", and that escorting officers had informed him "Mr Williams suffered from schizophrenia."
The court heard it was determined that Williams was not fit to be interviewed about the allegations at any point during his detention.
Jones told the court that a note from a healthcare worker in the custody logs recorded that Williams "appeared to be responding to voices." The note further stated that Williams "laughed", agreed when asked whether he was hearing voices, and when asked what the voices were saying, "he smiled and said 'lots of things'."
Jurors have also seen CCTV footage of Williams punching an officer in the face in the early hours of 2 November. He was also observed "climbing on his toilet several times and stroking the air vent." The following afternoon, a forensic psychiatrist noted he observed "active psychotic symptoms."
Charges span three separate alleged attacks
The prosecution alleges that on 31 October — the day before the train attack — Williams attempted to kill three people in Peterborough. He is also charged with attempting to murder a teenager in the early hours of 1 November on a DLR train in east London, bringing the total number of counts to 14.
Whether Williams carried out the attacks is not in dispute — the court has been told that this is accepted — but jurors must determine whether he intended to kill his victims at the time.
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)