Court Hears Details of Huntingdon Train Attacker's Mental State and Arrest

According to the BBC UK, a court has been informed that police suspected Anthony Williams, who is accused of trying to kill 10 individuals on a train that made an emergency stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on November 1 of last year, had schizophrenia. Williams, 33, of Langford Road in Peterborough, also denies four other counts of attempted murder related to earlier attacks in Peterborough and London.

During the trial at Cambridge Crown Court, PC Caitlin Brown, who assisted in transporting Williams to the hospital and subsequently to the police station, stated that Williams appeared to be conversing with himself and mentioned the devil.

PC Matt Panks, another officer involved in transporting Williams, provided a statement indicating that he witnessed the suspect behaving unusually and appearing unaffected by the events, noting that Williams was rocking and laughing. Panks reported hearing Williams ask, "Do you reckon it was worth it?" and repeated the question before reminding him that he was under caution.

Sgt James Cox, the custody sergeant at Parkside police station in Cambridge at the time of Williams' arrest, testified before the jury. The court heard that Williams was treated as a vulnerable adult and that he authorized support from an appropriate adult.

When questioned by Gillian Jones KC, who represents Williams, regarding reports of psychosis, Sgt Cox confirmed that it had been reported to him. He also confirmed that Williams was reportedly taking medication. Cox stated that his assessment was that Williams did not appear intoxicated, and he was informed by escorting officers that Mr Williams suffered from schizophrenia.

The court determined that the detainee was not fit to be interviewed. Jones informed the court that a note in the custody logs indicated Williams "appeared to be responding to voices." She further stated that the logs noted Williams "laughed," and when asked if he was hearing voices, he agreed, and when asked what the voices were saying, he smiled and responded that they were saying "lots of things."

Jurors also viewed CCTV footage showing Williams punching an officer in the face in the early morning hours of November 2, and heard accounts of him being observed "climbing on his toilet several times and stroking the air vent." A forensic psychiatrist later advised that he observed "active psychotic symptoms." The court heard that Williams was never interviewed regarding the allegations.

Prosecutors allege that on October 31, Williams attempted to kill three people in Peterborough, in addition to the charges of attempting to murder 10 people on the train and a teenager on a DLR train in east London in the early hours of November 1. The court has been informed that whether Williams committed the attacks is not in question, but the jury must determine if he intended to kill. The trial is ongoing.