Police Noted Schizophrenia in Train Attack Suspect, Jury Told

Anthony Williams, 33, of Peterborough, is on trial at Cambridge Crown Court, charged with attempting to murder passengers and staff on a train that made an emergency stop in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on 1 November last year. Police who arrested and transported Williams noted he had schizophrenia, the court was told.

PC Caitlin Brown, who was involved in transporting Williams to hospital and then to the police station, said he "appeared to be talking to himself" and spoke about the devil. PC Matt Panks said in his statement that Williams was rocking and laughing, and asked, "Do you reckon it was worth it?"

Sgt James Cox, the custody sergeant at Parkside police station in Cambridge, told the jury that Williams was treated as a vulnerable adult and was supported by an appropriate adult. Cox said he was informed by escorting officers that Williams suffered from schizophrenia. A healthcare worker in custody logs noted that Williams appeared to be responding to voices and was laughing.

Williams was never interviewed about the allegations. He also denies four other counts of attempted murder related to earlier attacks in Peterborough and London. Prosecutors allege that on 31 October he tried to kill three people in Peterborough and that on 1 November he attempted to murder a teenager on a DLR train in east London. The court has been told that whether Williams carried out the attacks is not in question, but jurors must consider whether he intended to kill.