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22/04/2005
Young mother still critical as hunt continues for knife attacker
Surrey Police have said that they have received “very significant” information regarding the attack on twenty-six-year-old Abigail Witchalls yesterday.
Police said that three landscape gardeners, travelling in a white transit lorry in the area just before Mrs Witchalls was attacked, almost collided with an “older” style blue Peugeot car, driving in the opposite direction. The gardeners said that the car was “out of keeping with the neighbourhood”.
There were two occupants in the car, the gardeners said – a white man who was driving and was described as being in his 20s, clean-shaven but with some stubble, wearing earrings and a gold chain around his neck and a white female around the same age, who was of slim build and had blonde shoulder length hair.
The gardeners also told police that they saw a female pushing a buggy, who they said had dark hair and was wearing a three-quarter length beige coat or cardigan. However, police have said that they do not believe this was Abigail.
Police said that these people could be “very significant” to the inquiry and either could be involved or could have witnessed the attack. They have been urged to come forward.
Abigail, a part-time English language teacher from Maddox Farm, Little Bookham, Surrey, was attacked on Wednesday afternoon in Little Bookham, as she pushed her young son Joseph in his buggy. A neighbour, Robert Hall, who was alerted to the incident by her screams, found her. He told reporters that when he found Abigail “blood was coming out of her nose and she could not move her head, only her eyes”.
The only description police have of her attacker is that he is white. Some reports have said that the man asked Mrs Witchalls for money before he attacking her. However, police say they are keeping a “very open mind” on what the motive for the attack may have been.
A weapon has yet to be found.
Mrs Witchalls was taken to St Georges Hospital in Tooting, where she remains in a critical condition. Her father-in-law James Witchalls told reporters that Abigail had been stabbed in the neck, “right below the vertebrae”. A family friend also told reporters that Abigail was conscious, but was paralysed from the neck down and could only communicate by blinking.
Police have said that they are determined to find Mrs Witchalls attacker. Yesterday, Detective Superintendent Adrian Harper from Surrey Police described the attack as “particularly distressing”, but stressed that the type of attack was “extremely rare” in that area and said that there had been no other similar incidents.
(KMcA/GB)
Police said that three landscape gardeners, travelling in a white transit lorry in the area just before Mrs Witchalls was attacked, almost collided with an “older” style blue Peugeot car, driving in the opposite direction. The gardeners said that the car was “out of keeping with the neighbourhood”.
There were two occupants in the car, the gardeners said – a white man who was driving and was described as being in his 20s, clean-shaven but with some stubble, wearing earrings and a gold chain around his neck and a white female around the same age, who was of slim build and had blonde shoulder length hair.
The gardeners also told police that they saw a female pushing a buggy, who they said had dark hair and was wearing a three-quarter length beige coat or cardigan. However, police have said that they do not believe this was Abigail.
Police said that these people could be “very significant” to the inquiry and either could be involved or could have witnessed the attack. They have been urged to come forward.
Abigail, a part-time English language teacher from Maddox Farm, Little Bookham, Surrey, was attacked on Wednesday afternoon in Little Bookham, as she pushed her young son Joseph in his buggy. A neighbour, Robert Hall, who was alerted to the incident by her screams, found her. He told reporters that when he found Abigail “blood was coming out of her nose and she could not move her head, only her eyes”.
The only description police have of her attacker is that he is white. Some reports have said that the man asked Mrs Witchalls for money before he attacking her. However, police say they are keeping a “very open mind” on what the motive for the attack may have been.
A weapon has yet to be found.
Mrs Witchalls was taken to St Georges Hospital in Tooting, where she remains in a critical condition. Her father-in-law James Witchalls told reporters that Abigail had been stabbed in the neck, “right below the vertebrae”. A family friend also told reporters that Abigail was conscious, but was paralysed from the neck down and could only communicate by blinking.
Police have said that they are determined to find Mrs Witchalls attacker. Yesterday, Detective Superintendent Adrian Harper from Surrey Police described the attack as “particularly distressing”, but stressed that the type of attack was “extremely rare” in that area and said that there had been no other similar incidents.
(KMcA/GB)
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12 May 2005
Man questioned over Witchalls case takes overdose
A man questioned in relation to the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls has died from what is thought to be a drug overdose. Surrey Police confirmed that 23-year-old Richard Cazaly had died in hospital in Scotland. Mr Cazaly, a gardener who lived a short distance from where the attack occurred, had been questioned by police before he left for Scotland.
Man questioned over Witchalls case takes overdose
A man questioned in relation to the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls has died from what is thought to be a drug overdose. Surrey Police confirmed that 23-year-old Richard Cazaly had died in hospital in Scotland. Mr Cazaly, a gardener who lived a short distance from where the attack occurred, had been questioned by police before he left for Scotland.
25 April 2005
Police begin to take statement from Abigail
Abigail Witchalls, the young expectant mother who was stabbed in the neck in an attack last week in Little Bookham, Surrey, is beginning the process of giving a statement to police about the attack. Police have said that the process is expected to be “very slow” and will take “some time” to complete.
Police begin to take statement from Abigail
Abigail Witchalls, the young expectant mother who was stabbed in the neck in an attack last week in Little Bookham, Surrey, is beginning the process of giving a statement to police about the attack. Police have said that the process is expected to be “very slow” and will take “some time” to complete.
29 April 2005
Police granted more time to question Abigail suspect
Surrey police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man in connection with the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls last week. The man was arrested on Wednesday evening in Croydon, south London and is being held in custody at Staines police station. Police will now be able to question him until Saturday morning.
Police granted more time to question Abigail suspect
Surrey police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man in connection with the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls last week. The man was arrested on Wednesday evening in Croydon, south London and is being held in custody at Staines police station. Police will now be able to question him until Saturday morning.
31 July 2006
Abigail Witchalls makes Lourdes pilgrimage
Abigail Witchalls, the young mother who was left paralysed after being stabbed in an attack last year, has made a pilgrimage to the famous shrine at Lourdes, it has been reported.
Abigail Witchalls makes Lourdes pilgrimage
Abigail Witchalls, the young mother who was left paralysed after being stabbed in an attack last year, has made a pilgrimage to the famous shrine at Lourdes, it has been reported.
11 November 2005
Baby joy for Abigail Witchalls
Abigail Witchalls, who was left paralysed after being stabbed in the neck earlier this year, has given birth to a baby boy. Abigail 26, gave birth to the baby at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London, on Friday afternoon.
Baby joy for Abigail Witchalls
Abigail Witchalls, who was left paralysed after being stabbed in the neck earlier this year, has given birth to a baby boy. Abigail 26, gave birth to the baby at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London, on Friday afternoon.
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