A JURY in the trial of a man who denies attempted murder following a Wigton stab attack has seen footage of his dramatic stand-off with police in the aftermath.
Carlisle Crown Court has heard Robert Pattinson was knifed in the face outside the Throstles Nest pub just before 10-30pm on April 12. He was stabbed just below his left eye with a large blade, more than 12cm of which became embedded in his face and skull having narrowly missed a main artery. It was later removed with “extreme difficulty” during emergency surgery.
Scott Topping, 39, is on trial. He admits wounding Mr Pattinson with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but denies attempting to murder him.
In court today (TUES), jurors watched police body cam footage taken after Topping was traced to his Mulligans Court home in Wigton after the attack. During an hour-long stand-off, Topping repeatedly shouted abuse and swore at officers, two of whom were carrying firearms.
He also made a number of comments as police tried to negotiate. “You will have to shoot me or I will start stabbing people,” he yelled, adding: “I will do what I want.”
At one stage before his eventual arrest, Topping was told someone had earlier been injured in the town and taken to hospital. “If he hasn’t died I don’t want to know,” Topping said.
“Has he died? I hope he’s died because if he hasn’t died…unlucky.”
The jury also heard a pathologist had provided an expert opinion after viewing case evidence. He concluded the force of blow needed to leave a blade embedded in such a way would have been “severe”, and that “it could have easily proved lethal”.
The trial continues.
