CCTV Footage of Fatal Beach Stabbing Presented at Murder Trial

A court was informed that a man, accused of stabbing two women—one fatally—was captured on CCTV prior to the incident, lingering close to them on a beach. Winchester Crown Court heard that the two friends were seated beside a fire near the water’s edge when they were assaulted by an unknown individual, described as intending a random killing. Nasen Saadi, 20, of Croydon, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Amie Gray, 34, and the attempted murder of her friend Leanne Miles, 38, which occurred at Durley Chine, Bournemouth, on 24 May. The jury was informed that Ms Gray, a 34-year-old sports coach from Poole, sustained ten knife wounds, among them one to her heart. A hush fell over the courtroom for a period of several minutes as video recordings of the purported murder were presented. Prosecutor Sarah Jones KC stated that the defendant was observed staying in proximity to the victims for thirty minutes while they were seated in the dim light by the fire. The barrister further noted that at 23:38 BST, he proceeded onto the sand and initiated the assault. The video depicted two individuals retreating from the fire immediately following an approach. The footage indicated that moments later, an initial confrontation resulted in one person on the sand, followed by a subsequent interaction involving two figures a short distance away. Dr. Basil Purdue, a pathologist, testified that Ms. Gray’s death was rapid, caused by numerous stab wounds to her chest and arm. During his testimony, he explained that a single knife thrust “cut deeply into the breastbone,” piercing her heart. He also mentioned that another stab wound severed an artery in the victim’s left arm, leading to significant blood loss. The pathologist reported that Ms. Miles sustained 20 injuries, primarily located on her back. The court was informed that she had blood present in the chest cavity surrounding her right lung and a laceration to her liver. He concluded by stating: “All of the injuries are clearly incised wounds… as a result of stabbing with a knife having a single sharp edge.” He further indicated that the blade’s length would not necessarily have exceeded 5-7cm (2-3 inches). He additionally noted that both women seemed to have attempted to defend themselves from the assaults using their arms. Ms. Jones stated that additional footage presented to the jury showed the defendant traveling by train to Bournemouth on 21 May. The prosecutor further mentioned that he conducted multiple nocturnal reconnaissance missions in the area, dressed in dark attire and sunglasses. The court was informed that on 23 May, he relocated from a Travelodge to the Silver How Hotel. The jury was told that on the evening of the attack, he reached the beach at 23:06. Ms. Jones indicated that video evidence depicted Mr. Saadi pacing along the promenade before assaulting the woman and then returning to his hotel. She had previously informed the court that the defendant had premeditated a random act of killing. The prosecutor had previously stated that during March and April, Mr. Saadi conducted internet searches for terms such as “deadliest knife,” “machete,” and “what hotels don’t have CCTV.” Ms. Jones concluded by asserting: “He seems to have wanted to know what it would be like to take life.” On Monday, a video presented in court featured Ms. Miles recounting how she begged for her life, citing her children. From her hospital bed, three days following the assault, she stated: “I just remember we turned around, and I looked at this boy.” She added: “He went towards me first – because I remember Amie saying: ‘What are you doing? Get off her.'” With her voice trembling with emotion, Ms. Miles recounted losing sight of her friend during their escape, but recalled hearing her exclaim: “Get off me.” She proceeded: “He came back on to me and he was continuously stabbing me.” She then said: “I said: ‘Please stop, I’ve got children.’ And then I think that’s when he started to go, he walked away.” Mr. Saadi has admitted guilt to the charge of not providing police with access to his mobile phone. The legal proceedings are ongoing. For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.