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| London Bridge attackers tried to decapitate woman, inquest hears | London Bridge attackers tried to decapitate woman, inquest hears |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The London Bridge attackers tried to decapitate one of their victims, an inquest has heard. | The London Bridge attackers tried to decapitate one of their victims, an inquest has heard. |
| Marie Bondeville, who was attacked in Borough Market, said the men “tried to cut my head off”, as they began slashing her neck following a sustained knife attack on her upper body. | |
| Bondeville and her partner, Oliver Dowling, had been celebrating moving into a flat together at nearby Lobos Meat and Tapas shortly before they were set upon by Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba on 3 June 2017. | Bondeville and her partner, Oliver Dowling, had been celebrating moving into a flat together at nearby Lobos Meat and Tapas shortly before they were set upon by Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba on 3 June 2017. |
| In a statement read at the Old Bailey, she described seeing one of the men “walking like he was a boxer going into a fight” as they approached the couple near the bridge, before Dowling had pulled out in front. | In a statement read at the Old Bailey, she described seeing one of the men “walking like he was a boxer going into a fight” as they approached the couple near the bridge, before Dowling had pulled out in front. |
| “I felt a punch on the right side of my face,” said Bondeville, adding that she heard Dowling shout before watching him fall to the ground at the same time as her. | “I felt a punch on the right side of my face,” said Bondeville, adding that she heard Dowling shout before watching him fall to the ground at the same time as her. |
| She was then stabbed 18 times as she lay with her legs on the pavement and torso on the road – although at the time Bondeville had believed she was being punched. | She was then stabbed 18 times as she lay with her legs on the pavement and torso on the road – although at the time Bondeville had believed she was being punched. |
| “There were times when I’m sure I was being hit twice, at the same time,” she added. | “There were times when I’m sure I was being hit twice, at the same time,” she added. |
| At one point, she had tried to reach out her hand to touch Dowling but could not. She said: “I thought he was dead, I was begging them to stop. At the time, I thought it went on for about 10 minutes but I’m sure it was only a few seconds. | |
| “The worst part of all of this wasn’t the attack or the pain but the thought that Oliver was dead because of me – because he had pulled out to protect me.” | “The worst part of all of this wasn’t the attack or the pain but the thought that Oliver was dead because of me – because he had pulled out to protect me.” |
| Bondeville described the eyes of one of the attackers as “like a junkie” and “empty”. | Bondeville described the eyes of one of the attackers as “like a junkie” and “empty”. |
| She added that she had been aware of people running past and not stopping to help, although she had blacked out after feeling as though she had “been hit with a hammer or an axe”. | She added that she had been aware of people running past and not stopping to help, although she had blacked out after feeling as though she had “been hit with a hammer or an axe”. |
| After being taken to a London hospital, Bondeville was put into an induced coma for a week by doctors. She sustained 18 stab wounds and 23 cuts and scars. | After being taken to a London hospital, Bondeville was put into an induced coma for a week by doctors. She sustained 18 stab wounds and 23 cuts and scars. |
| She added that she “clearly remembered” the events “because of the traumatic impact it had on my life”. | She added that she “clearly remembered” the events “because of the traumatic impact it had on my life”. |
| Dowling also survived the attack, and was taken to University College hospital, where he was treated for stab wounds to his face, neck and stomach. | Dowling also survived the attack, and was taken to University College hospital, where he was treated for stab wounds to his face, neck and stomach. |
| In a separate statement, Dowling said that during the attack he had heard Bondeville shouting, “What are you doing, leave him alone,” and also initially thought they were being punched by the attackers. | |
| He added that he thought Bondeville had died until paramedics began treating her. | He added that he thought Bondeville had died until paramedics began treating her. |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |
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