JUDGE GODDARD ATTACKED

'There was blood all over the place'

By Sue Clough

Daily Telegraph 19/06/2001

 

THE attack on Judge Ann Goddard was as sudden as it was violent. She was sitting in Court 11 of the Old Bailey for a routine hearing regarding a man's forthcoming murder trial and was beginning to adjourn proceedings to allow the prisoner to consult his lawyers.
But before she could finish, the man leapt from the dock and charged past empty jury and press benches, picking up a carafe of water which he hurled at the judge. It missed her but smashed against the wall behind her, sending splinters of glass flying across the court. He then climbed on to the bench and began punching the judge.
One barrister who was present said: "He was so quick no one could stop him. He punched Judge Goddard several times. There was blood all over the place. Everyone ran to the front of the court and pounced on him. The judge was more worried about the safety of everyone else rather than herself, but she looked terrible."
Dc John Nicholson who, with Ian Fry, the court clerk, were the first to reach and tackle the man, said: "Everyone thought he was trying to escape and blocked off the exits. But instead he ran down the side of the court and on to the platform where the judge was sitting. I think there were five or six punches which connected as we tried to pull him away. It was a great shock to everyone. It took us all by surprise and we don't know what set the man off."
Although defendants have lunged towards judges and made threats in the past, this is the first occasion in recent times that an Old Bailey judge has been physically assaulted. Last night, it was disclosed that an extra escort officer had been assigned to guard the prisoner because of his earlier protests during court hearings.