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UK boy in court charged with two Colchester knife murders UK boy in court charged with two Colchester knife murders
(about 1 hour later)
A 16-year-old boy is due to appear in court charged with the knife murders of two people in Essex. A 16-year-old boy accused of killing two people, allegedly stabbing one more than 100 times, was remanded in custody as he appeared in court today.
The youth will appear in front of magistrates on Saturday morning after he was arrested on the Salary Brook Trail in Colchester – where Saudi student Nahid Almanea was stabbed to death last June – at about 11am on Tuesday on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon. The teenager was arrested on Tuesday at the same riverside footpath in Colchester where he allegedly stabbed a student to death last year.
Essex Police confirmed he had been charged with the murder of Almanea and James Attfield, who died after being stabbed more than 100 times in a park in the town in March last year. He allegedly killed Saudi student Nahid Almanea, 31, knifing her 16 times as she walked along the Salary Brook trail towards the University of Essex on the morning of 17 June last year. She was wearing a Muslim gown called an abaya when she was attacked.
The two deaths prompted fears that a killer was randomly targeting members of the public, after officers said there were “striking similarities” in how they were murdered but nothing to link the victims. It is alleged that in March 2014 the youth murdered James Attfield, 33, who was stabbed more than 100 times in a park in the town.
Attfield, who had a brain injury after being hit by a car four years before his death, was found in a serious condition in the town’s Castle park on 29 March last year. He died later in hospital. The two deaths sparked fears a killer was randomly attacking, after police said there were “striking similarities” in the murders but nothing to link the victims.
Almanea, 31, was walking to lectures at the University of Essex when she was murdered on the Salary Brook Trail on 17 June. Attfield, who had a brain injury after being hit by a car four years before his death, was found fighting for his life in the town’s Castle Park on 29 March last year. He died later in hospital.
Detective chief superintendent Steve Worron, who led the investigation, said: “We have received excellent backing throughout the investigations into both James and Nahid’s deaths from the whole community in Colchester and I would like to thank them all again for their continued support. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Chelmsford magistrates court charged with the two murders. He was arrested after allegedly being found with a lock knife at the Salary Brook trail and is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon.
“We are continuing our inquiries and if anyone believes they have any information relating to either James or Nahid’s deaths I would ask them to contact us as soon as possible.” He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and answered “yes” when the court clerk asked him if he understood the proceedings.
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to appear before Chelmsford magistrates court. Chairman of the bench, Paul Hole, remanded the youth in custody. He will next appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.