Police ‘failed to warn murder victim of threat’
A KNIFE fiend warned police he planned to murder a neighbour the day before he struck – but officers did nothing, the victim’s widow claims.
Sarah Boorman revealed her husband Matthew, 43, was not even told his life was in danger – despite Can Arslan’s record of threats, abuse and harassment.
She described the police response as “toothless” and said the authorities had ignored the signals for years.
Mrs Boorman added: “We will never be the same without Matthew but we fight in his name to expose the failings that let this happen.”
Arslan, 52, stabbed fatherof-three Mr Boorman 27 times on his front lawn.
He also knifed Mrs Boorman in the leg as she bravely tried to save her husband, Bristol Crown Court heard. The killer callously sat on Mr Boorman and lit a “triumphant” cigarette before bursting into the home of neighbour Peter Marsden and stabbing him eight times. Arslan brought a “reallife horror movie” to the quiet village of Walton Cardiff, Gloucs, last October.
He was facing eviction after a 12-year feud against neighbours that began with a row over parking.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct are probing the alleged failures. Mrs Boorman added: “Mistakes were made. They must be acknowledged, learned from and never repeated.”
Arslan admitted assaulting Mrs Boorman, the attempted murder of Mr Marsden and affray. But he denied murdering Mr Boorman, saying he had a psychiatric episode.
Yet the jury found him guilty yesterday and he was sent back to Broadmoor until sentencing on June 9. Mrs Justice Johannah Cutts said: “It must be life in prison.”