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Knifeman is identified by CCTV of his buttocks
A KNIFEMAN has been sentenced to 16 years after being identified when he exposed his buttocks.
Aaron Williams and an unidentified accomplice struck silently in a shop in Queen’s Crescent, Kentish Town, and left their victim fighting for his life.
When detectives investigated, they found no tell-tale fingerprints, no DNA and no eyewitnesses able to identify the culprits.
But when CCTV footage from David’s newsagents was checked, the film showed heavily-built Williams bending over in the counter area to strike knife blows at the victim.
“As he leaned over to stab his victim, his outer clothing rode up to reveal a large and distinctive birthmark across his lower back and buttocks,” said prosecutor Robin Miric at the Old Bailey.
The blemish was clearly captured on CCTV, and when Williams was arrested police photographed his back. “A professor of dermatology was able to compare both images and said they were unique and on the same body,” said Mr Miric.
Jurors who studied the marks convicted Williams, of Kings Norton, Birmingham, of attempting to murder Kevin Williams, 29, who is not related. The two are believed to have been involved in a dispute over a woman.
A second man involved has evaded capture.
Williams, 28, formerly of Somers Town, denied being the assailant but did not testify.
The victim gave evidence for only minutes and maintained he could recall little of the incident and could not identify anyone.
But Kevin Williams, who was a regular at the shop and lived nearby, told jurors he had “enemies”.
Sensing danger at the appearance of two hooded men at lunchtime on September 19 last year as he shopped, Kevin Williams took refuge behind the counter. But he could not escape the repeated knife blows which left the floor awash with his blood.
Two knives were discarded at the scene.
After weeks in the Royal Free Hospital on a life-support machine, and having undergone several operations, Kevin Williams still has more surgery to endure.
He sustained deep wounds to the head, neck, ear, face, thigh, buttock, back and arm. In hospital he developed pneumonia.
Jurors returned a unanimous guilty verdict after hearing evidence from experts who described the mark on Aaron Williams’ back as “unique”.
Sam Stein, defending, said: “My client deserves punishment and knows that full well.”
Mr Stein revealed that Kevin Williams had a criminal record and said he had been reluctant to co-operate with detectives or medical staff.
“There is no evidence of what lay behind this deadly attack. I’ve little doubt your victim could have died,” Judge Martin Stephens, QC, told Aaron Williams in passing sentence. He added: “You stabbed him 11 times as he was helpless on the floor. He suffered grievously at your hands.”
Judge Stephens said the prison sentence had to be severe because the “intention was to kill.”
Williams will serve half the 16-year term and will be on licence for the remainder. |
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