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| Teen admits killing US tourist in Russell Square multiple stabbing | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A teenager has pleaded guilty to killing an American tourist and wounding five others in a series of random stabbings in Russell Square, London, in August last year. | A teenager has pleaded guilty to killing an American tourist and wounding five others in a series of random stabbings in Russell Square, London, in August last year. |
| Appearing at the Old Bailey on Monday, Zakaria Bulhan, 19, admitted the manslaughter of Darlene Horton, 64, on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and the wounding of five others with intent to do them grievous bodily harm. | Appearing at the Old Bailey on Monday, Zakaria Bulhan, 19, admitted the manslaughter of Darlene Horton, 64, on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and the wounding of five others with intent to do them grievous bodily harm. |
| He had been due to stand trial on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder. After pleading guilty to the lesser charges on Monday, the prosecution said it accepted his not-guilty pleas to murder and attempted murder. | He had been due to stand trial on one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder. After pleading guilty to the lesser charges on Monday, the prosecution said it accepted his not-guilty pleas to murder and attempted murder. |
| The court heard that Bulhan was undergoing an “acute” episode of paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attacks on 3 August. | The court heard that Bulhan was undergoing an “acute” episode of paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attacks on 3 August. |
| The prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said the case had been considered at the “highest level” and it was decided it was right to accept the pleas. | The prosecutor Mark Heywood QC said the case had been considered at the “highest level” and it was decided it was right to accept the pleas. |
| Opening the facts of the case, Heywood said that on the evening of 3 August a man was seen “moving in an erratic fashion” in Russell Square, armed with a large kitchen knife. | |
| “Without warning or provocation, the man stabbed six people in relatively quick succession, saying nothing to any of them, moving on after each stabbing towards his next victim,” he said. | |
| Five of the victims sustained non-fatal injuries and made good recoveries. Horton was stabbed in the back, with the blade penetrating her left lung and heart, and died at the scene. | |
| Months before the killing, Bulhan had dropped out of college as his mental state deteriorated. In March last year, he had been referred for treatment for his mental health and his behaviour became more odd leading up to August, the court heard. | |
| Mr Justice Spencer ordered the attempted murder charges to lie on file. | Mr Justice Spencer ordered the attempted murder charges to lie on file. |
| Despite initial concern, Scotland Yard said at the time that no evidence had been found of radicalisation or anything to suggest the man in custody was “in any way motivated by terrorism”. | Despite initial concern, Scotland Yard said at the time that no evidence had been found of radicalisation or anything to suggest the man in custody was “in any way motivated by terrorism”. |
| Bulhan is a Norwegian national of Somali origin who moved to the UK in 2002 and was living in Wandsworth, south London, with his mother, brother and sister at the time of the attack. | Bulhan is a Norwegian national of Somali origin who moved to the UK in 2002 and was living in Wandsworth, south London, with his mother, brother and sister at the time of the attack. |
| Horton, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was attacked in front of her husband, Richard Wagner, a psychology professor at Florida State University. He had been in London teaching summer classes which had ended that day. They were due to fly back to the US hours after the incident took place. | Horton, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was attacked in front of her husband, Richard Wagner, a psychology professor at Florida State University. He had been in London teaching summer classes which had ended that day. They were due to fly back to the US hours after the incident took place. |
| She reportedly died while being cradled in the lap of a Spanish tourist after trying to warn others their lives could be in danger. Friends of Horton described the retired special education teacher as an “inspiration”. | She reportedly died while being cradled in the lap of a Spanish tourist after trying to warn others their lives could be in danger. Friends of Horton described the retired special education teacher as an “inspiration”. |
| The only British victim was 67-year-old Bernard Hepplewhite, from Kent, who was seriously injured after being stabbed in the stomach. | The only British victim was 67-year-old Bernard Hepplewhite, from Kent, who was seriously injured after being stabbed in the stomach. |
| The other victims were: Martin Hoenisch, from the US, who was stabbed in the chest; Australians Lillie Selletin, 23, who was stabbed in the back, and David Imber, 40, stabbed in the chest; and Israeli Yovel Lewronski, 18, who was stabbed in her bicep. | The other victims were: Martin Hoenisch, from the US, who was stabbed in the chest; Australians Lillie Selletin, 23, who was stabbed in the back, and David Imber, 40, stabbed in the chest; and Israeli Yovel Lewronski, 18, who was stabbed in her bicep. |