Pensioner Ethem Orhon jailed for 20 years for 'appalling' Hampton Sainsbury's stabbing spree
Ethem Orhon stabbed four women in a car park in Hampton, west London, on 20 May this year.
A "disturbed loner" who stabbed four women in a Sainsbury's supermarket car park in London, has been jailed for 20 years. Pensioner Ethem Orhon was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder and two counts of wounding with intent to cause GBH after the horrific incident in the car park of the supermarket chain in Hampton, west London, on 20 May this year.
The 67-year-old inflicted serious injuries on his victims during the rampage the day after Orhon was arrested for possessing a knife. Ohren, a retired odd-job man, originally from Turkey, who has been living in the UK since 1989, was released on bail after being charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place - a Leatherman multi-tool.
After being released by police he went home, armed himself with a second Leatherman and headed to the Sainsbury's car park, around 10 minutes from his home. One of the women, Suzanna Brand, was stabbed 13 times in the vicious stabbing spree that left her with two collapsed lungs.
A jury at Kingston Crown Court took four hours and 55 minutes to find Orhon, guilty of the offences. He told the court he was "like a zombie" and felt "hypnotised" during the attack. Ohren told officers after he was arrested that he felt humiliated after being strip-searched by the Met when he was arrested the previous day.
Sentencing, Judge Paul Dodgson told Orhon according to the BBC: "This was a planned attempt to kill albeit while the balance of your mind was disturbed. You took that knife intending to use it, intending to kill people.
"You are on your own and as a loner it may be you are someone who tends to brood on matters," the judge added commenting on his "unusual personality".
His assault targeted Brand, 53, who was hit with the knife from behind then Janet Morsy, 63, who was struck in the arm and chest, Jean Sullivan, 68, was stabbed in the back, damaging her chest wall, right lung and liver and Charandasi Chandiramani, 71, who was stabbed twice in the back.
The attack lasted around 10 minutes and Orhon was witnessed walking towards a fifth woman, but was ultimately distracted by two school boys warning others of the danger. In custody a police officer recorded that Orhon had said "I shouldn't have done it" and "it was a loss of control".
Chandiramani suffers with post-traumatic stress disorder since the incident and still sees "the madness in his eyes at night".
"The mental aspect has a profound effect on my life," she said. "Hopefully now I can get off the sleeping tablets - I don't want to be addicted to anything - and get back to my old life."
Detective Constable Leo Farnon, the investigating officer, said: "I am pleased with the verdict and hope that this justice can bring some closure to the four victims who suffered appalling injuries as a result of Orhon's actions.
"I would also like to thank the two boys who bravely distracted the armed attacker, whilst warning others of the danger he posed and calling police. Without their intervention it is possible that Orhon's attacks could have continued and resulted in further victims."
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