Knifeman on train had 'greatest delight on his face', court told

A man who stabbed 10 people on a London-bound train "had the greatest delight on his face" and was "loving every single moment" of the attack, a court has heard.

The jury was told passenger Raza Aslam said he saw Anthony Williams' eyes "expand with pleasure" and saw the "contempt on his face, like a person who's high" as the defendant attacked him on an LNER train on 1 November last year.

Mr Aslam, who was stabbed in the hand, said his life was "saved" by train worker Samir Zitouni, who started throwing things at the defendant, prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC told Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.

Williams has admitted 10 counts of wounding with intent relating to the incident on the Doncaster to London service at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

He also stabbed four other people in the 24 hours before the attack but denies 14 counts of attempted murder.

Another train passenger Scott Green, who was also stabbed, said his dog saved the day by barking, causing Williams to run down the aisle.

The defendant had previously been "bitten by a dog" in an "unrelated incident", according to Mr Paxton.

A pensioner who was stabbed "many times" told police he thought he was going to die, the court heard.

David Presland, 73, fell to the floor of the carriage, as he tried to escape from Williams but was stabbed in the back while he was on his hands and knees.

The pensioner was a victim of the "storm of violence" that Williams, 33, unleashed on the train, Mr Paxton said.

Mr Presland, who was treated in hospital for stab wounds to his upper chest, armpit area, and lower back, told police: "I thought I was going to die. I'm very lucky that I've survived," according to Mr Paxton.

The pensioner said he was helped by someone he knew as Kevin, who "we believe to be Kevin Deely, who himself was stabbed by the defendant", Mr Paxton added.

The prosecutor said: "In this storm of violence, and even when gripped by fear, many there on the train helped others and some stood tall, quite literally, against the defendant's violent onslaught."

The service had left Peterborough at around 7.29pm and was stopped at Huntingdon train station at 7.44pm by the "quick thinking" train driver.

Jurors were played CCTV footage from the train which showed Williams approaching Mr Presland with a knife and stabbing him as he was on the floor.

Mr Paxton said the defendant's "intention to kill is, we suggest, plain in his interaction with Mr Presland".

He said Mr Presland was "much older than the defendant, quite small and frail in stature, and defenceless on the floor".

He said that in the footage, Williams "brings down the knife with repeated stabbing actions to areas housing vital organs".

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Passenger Scott Bletcher, who was stabbed in his head, chest and forearm by Williams, remembered saying "I don't think I'm going to make it".

Mr Paxton told the court Mr Bletcher called 999 and hid in a bike rack until the train stopped.

The prosecutor said: "At that stage, Mr Bletcher will explain he felt incredibly tired, was struggling to keep his eyes open and recalls saying, and I quote, 'I don't think I'm going to make it'."

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Knifeman on train had 'greatest delight on his face', court told