Teenager admits killing nurse with acid during drugs fight

Joanne Rand, a nurse, had been visiting her daughter's grave when she was covered in sulphuric acid

Joanne Rand, 47, had been visiting her daughter's grave when she was covered in acid during a drugs fight (Thames Valley Police)

A teenager has admitted killing an innocent nurse who was covered in acid after being caught up in a fight over drugs.

Joanne Rand had been to visit her daughter’s grave when Xeneral Webster approached the bench she was sitting on in High Wycombe.

Reading Crown Court heard the 19-year-old was trying to take a bicycle from another young man who he accused of selling him the former “legal high” spice instead of cannabis.

“He produced next an open-topped bottle of acid and makes to throw it towards Mr Hussain and he said to Mr Hussain: 'This is acid',” said prosecutor Alison Hunter QC as she described CCTV footage of the incident.

“At this moment, Mr Hussain, panicking, knocks the acid out of Mr Webster's hand.”

The bottle rolled and hit Ms Rand, who was sitting a few metres away, covering her face and body with industrial strength sulphuric acid.

Ms Rand “instantly noticed that her hair was wet and that her face had begun to burn”, the court heard, screaming in pain and running to a nearby branch of KFC to wash it off.

Xeneral Webster, 19, admitted manslaughter after a nurse died after being covered in acid (Thames Valley Police)

The 47-year-old was treated for her injuries on 3 June last year and released from Stoke Mandeville Hospital after suffering up to 5 per cent burns.

But she died 11 days after the attack from multiple organ failure after developing sepsis.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Glister, of Thames Valley Police, said Ms Rand helped police track Webster down before she was taken back into hospital.

“Webster showed a total disregard for the innocent members of the public who were present that day and his actions took a much loved mum, sister, and partner away from her many family and friends,” he added.

“Acid attacks are horrific. Their consequences devastate lives. I hope this case is a pertinent reminder to anyone considering carrying this dangerous substance that doing so can have very serious consequences.”

It was the second known death caused by an acid attack in the UK following 29-year-old Mark Van Dongen, who died with medical assistance after being paralysed and scarred in a 2015 attack.

Several victims have been left with life-changing injuries following a spate of attacks using corrosive substances in Britain, sparking a crackdown on sales by the government and new laws to punish anyone carrying the weapons.

Webster was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter part-way through his trial on Wednesday.

Prosecutors argued the defendant knew the consequences of having acid in a public place after being the victim of an attack himself.

Webster also pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing an offensive weapon, namely bottles of acid and ammonia, and a fourth charge of affray.

His pleas of not guilty to murder, robbery and attempted grievous bodily harm were accepted by the prosecution and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 15 June.

Webster, of Banstead Court in Westway, west London, will also be sentenced on that date for charges of threatening to kill, possessing an offensive weapon and damaging property in relation to a separate incident involving a samurai sword to which he had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Adrian Foster, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said that although Ms Rand was not the intended victim of the attack, Webster “intended to cause really serious harm”.

“The man fighting with Webster acted reasonably, in the circumstances, by deflecting the bottle away,” he added.

“Webster was responsible for the death of Joanne and had he not planned to hurt the intended victim, Joanne would still be alive today.

“We know that nothing will bring Joanne back to her family and friends, but we hope today’s conviction brings them at least a small sense that justice has been done.”

Additional reporting by PA