Kentish Express Ashford & District
Knifeman tried to murder woman, 73
A courageous Wye accountant who refused to let a brutal knifeman kill her has won the praise of a judge.
Despite being stabbed 11 times, 73-year-old Wendy Webster told herself: “I’m not going to let him bloody kill me! I thought ‘I’m going to die, I am not going to let that happen!’”
Now a judge has nominated Ms Webster for a High Sheriff of Kent Award for her bravery.
He said: “Her courage, resourcefulness and determination probably had a great deal to do with the fact she did not die.
“She was a victim who wouldn’t give in and saved herself and she was impressive.
“Even more so because it was a horrifying attack yet she remained kind, considerate and sympathetic to the defendant.
“She did every thing she could to try to stop him doing what he eventually did do.”
Minutes earlier a jury at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday found Leonidis Mouzakitis guilty of attempting to murder her.
He will be sentenced later in the year after the preparation of probation and psychiatric reports on what dangers he still poses to society.
Judge James O’Mahony told him he could face a life sentence, saying: “This was an appalling, murderous attack. It was calculated, methodical and vicious.”
The jury had been told that despite her appalling wounds, Ms Webster staggered 80 yards from her home in Little Olantigh Road before flagging down a passing car.
Mouzakitis, of Stanley Road, Folkestone, has admitted aggravated burglary, stealing a car and wounding with intent but had denied attempted murder.
Prosecutor Simon Connolly told the jury how the 23-year-old had conned his way into the home of the businesswoman last August, before producing a knife and grabbing her around the neck.
Mrs Webster tried to talk the knifeman into giving himself up to police as they sat at a table at her home where she was recovering from a horse riding accident.
Mouzakitis had been to her home a few weeks earlier claiming he needed help in starting his car – and she thought he may have been a new neighbour.
Mr Connolly said he arrived at her home claiming he was collecting a parcel which had been left in her garden by the postal service.
Mouzakitis then took out a knife after grabbing his victim around the neck and as she put an arm up her finger was cut.
She said: “I was astounded and terrified. He told me: ‘I am sorry, I must have your car. I need your car because I have to get to Bournemouth’.
“All I could do was to try to keep things calm and not aggravate the situation, “she added.
Mr Connolly said the burglar claimed his sister had been abducted by a loan shark and demanded Ms Webster’s keys to her BMW.
She told the jury how she then sat down on a chair in the kitchen expecting Mouzakitis to leave.
“He pulled up a chair and sat down next to me and put his rucksack and knife in front of me. His manner was nervous but determined.”
During a discussion, the burglar told her he was “really evil” and claimed to be a tattooist from Ashford before pretending to call the police to give himself up.
Mrs Webster went to the door to see if the police had arrived, moving very slowly because of her horse accident injuries.
Judge O’Mahony praised the police for their “detailed, comprehensive” investigation said senior officers had been “fair to a fault” as well as being dedicated.
He also commended Mr Connolly and defence barrister Oliver Saxby QC for their skill and presentation of the case.
‘This was an appalling, murderous attack. It was calculated, methodical, vicious’