VIDEO: Moment stranger was repeatedly stabbed in Plymouth street
This is the moment James Atkinson launched a frenzied knife attack on a complete stranger leaving him on the ground clutching his protruding intestines.
CCTV clearly shows Atkinson repeatedly stabbing his victim, 66-year-old Geoffrey Franklin, having followed him through Peverell.
Yesterday a jury at Plymouth Crown Court unanimously found Atkinson guilty of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
During the course of the trial the jury panel watched the CCTV footage and had seen the “carving knife” that was used in the attack on July 23, 2011.
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The brutal assault took place at Sewell Court flats in Langhill Road at approximately 10.30pm.
Atkinson, of Langhill Road, Peverell, did not give evidence in his defence and barrister Robert Linford said his client claimed he was at home all day apart from a few minutes when he went to buy a newspaper at his local shop.
The CCTV video showed the defendant following Mr Franklin as he walked through Peverell. His pace increases as he draws closer to Mr Franklin before suddenly stabbing him six times with a kitchen knife.
Judge Paul Darlow told the jury in summing up: “There was no one else in that street. He [the attacker] was a matter of feet behind Mr Franklin.”
The judge told the jury that Mr Franklin was in such shock he had not realised he had been stabbed until he was in Derriford Hospital.
Two independent witnesses saw the aftermath of the stabbing and identified Atkinson, as he was known to them both, the court heard.
Mr Franklin had been described to the court as “a man of habit” who uses a walking stick and has an artificial eye. On the night he was stabbed, he had been using his regular route home from his friends house – which was described as a less direct but safer, better lit route.
Mr Franklin was stabbed three times in the abdomen and three times to the rest of his body.
He was taken to Derriford Hospital where the court heard he had part of his small intestine removed by surgeons as a result of the stabbing.
He remained in hospital for two weeks before being allowed home.
Police needed to use an ‘enforcer’ battering-ram to get access into Atkinson’s flat before arresting him.
They found the defendant sat in his living room which the court heard was in “total darkness”.
The police also saw a wet kitchen knife on the draining board.
Prosecutor, David Gittins, told the court that Atkinson had a small cut on his hand and blood on his jeans.
The court heard forensic testing did not show Mr Franklin’s blood on Atkinson’s clothes.
He previously pleaded not guilty to two counts: wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and an alternative charge of unlawful wounding.
The 39-year-old, who remains is custody, will be sentenced on December 7 following the outcome of psychiatric tests.
WARNING: Footage may not be appropriate for persons below 18 years of age.
Comments
by paulmh66
Friday, November 02 2012, 4:05PM
“He needs a retrial for a charge of attempted murder, on the grounds that he obviously set out to seriously injure, or even kill this man or anyone he may of come across. You can tell by the way he followed him, attacked and the walked back in the direction he came from. And when found guilty, life in prison, no TV, no extras. Just enough to survive on, and life meaning life.
I agree the video should not of been shown to the public, or at least an edited version with some serious blurring out, just to get the jest of this morons actions.”
by Hearald
Friday, November 02 2012, 2:07PM
“hope you didn't watch the video then, any crime caught on video should be available for all to see”
by JUSTANAME
Friday, November 02 2012, 12:57PM
“This is absolutely disgusting... The video should not in any way be disclosed to anyone else other than the jury and police! The crime prosecution order within the UK is a shambles! This is an unprovoked attack on an elderly man and the attacker clearly just walks off after... WALKS not runs!
Just a personal comment, I have a several relatives that are the age of this person who was violently attacked and if it had happened to any one of them, all I can say is lord have mercy on your soul, mind and body Mr Atkinson, because I'd find you, I'd hunt you down and I'd make sure you witnessed more than your intestines protruding out of your body and holding them!
You'd suffer BIG TIME boyo!!!!”
by Hearald
Friday, November 02 2012, 10:48AM
“Great British justice at work again”
by beerbarian
Friday, November 02 2012, 10:31AM
“*** this is attempted murder!!!!!”
by TheStig
Thursday, November 01 2012, 11:43PM
“also one last comment is this cctv really in the interest of the public to see. id like to see this type of thing kept best for the police and jury involved in the case. made my blood chill. anyway thoughts with the old boy get well soon.”
by TheStig
Thursday, November 01 2012, 11:26PM
“Cant understand how the charge isnt attempt murder. 66 years old with a walking stick this is a savage attack to an oap. another cps deal on the charge by the looks of it.”
by olddogbreath
Thursday, November 01 2012, 6:27PM
“One would have thought this was more like attempted murder and consequently one would hope that this bloke gets life. But this is Plymouth, so we will see.
Hope the 66 year old man has made a full recovery and has not been left with any fear of going out at night.”
by John_Ply
Thursday, November 01 2012, 4:18PM
“This was a premeditated attack, as the perpetrator seemed to be stalking his victim, but why was he not charged with attempted murder? It is only by the 'Grace of God' that the disabled Mr. Franklin is alive today. I do not know, but I assume that the charge of 'wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm', is a lessor offence and therefore may carry a lesser sentence. I do not know if there are any insanity issues involved here, as the crime seems to be motiveless. He did not appear to rob his victim or knew him.
I also suspect that this ordeal, will stay with Mr. Franklin for the rest of his life and could have a fearful effect about walking alone at night. Which would be totally understandable amongst all of us. I wish Mr. Franklin the very best for the future and hope in some measure, he able to get over this, I also sincerely hope that, Mr. Franklin gets the justice he deserves.
The perpetrator of this crime, needs to be locked away for a long, long time, or his next victim based on the randomness of this attack, could be you or I.”
by H3796
Thursday, November 01 2012, 1:13PM
“Watching that has actually made me feel sick!”