Attempted murder case

A pensioner is due in court today (Friday) charged with the attempted murder of a retirement home manager.

Fred Butcher, 79, was arrested last month and is accused of stabbing the staff member during an attack at Hengist Court in Maidstone’s Marsham Street.

Mina Turner, 59, was seriously hurt in the incident, on January, 26 and a large-scale emergency response was activated.

Ms Turner was airlifted to Kings College Hospital in London where she had four hours of surgery. Her condition is now described as stable but she is believed to have left the London hospital. Butcher at Maidstone Magistrates Court at the end of last month and was remanded in custody.