'Knifeman offered to have sex with victim'

first Edtion

A MAN who launched a frenzied knife attack on a young dance student offered to have sex with him as he apparently lay bleeding to death, the Old Bailey was told yesterday.

Peter Kyte, for the prosecution, said that Anthony Jewhurst, 40, asked Philip Connolly: 'If I thought I was going to die I would like to have sex with someone. What about you? What would you like?'

Mr Connolly, 19, who was studying at the London Studios Centre, King's Cross, said he met Mr Jewhurst while sunbathing in Kennington Park, south London, last May.

Pretending to be a removal man, Mr Jewhurst offered him pounds 50 to help with a flat move.

He drove the student to his grandmother's empty flat in Croydon, south London, where he launched a 'frenzied attack', stabbing Mr Connolly five times in the back with a 12-inch (30.5 centimetres) kitchen knife, Mr Kyte said.

Mr Connolly told the court: 'I was losing a lot of blood. Blood was everywhere on the walls, the cabinets and the wardrobe.'

Mr Connolly managed to disarm his attacker but lost consciousness. He finally came around and after another hour managed to persuade Mr Jewhurst to take him to hospital. One wound had penetrated his lung, causing it to collapse.

Mr Jewhurst, a signwriter, of Selhurst Road, South Norwood, south London, denies attempted murder and wounding with intent.

The trial was adjourned until today.