Suspect appears in court

AMAN accused of fatally stabbing three men in Forbury Gardens in Reading appeared at The Old Bailey yesterday.

Khairi Saadallah, 25 and from Basingstoke Road, Reading, is accused of murdering three people – James Furlong, 36, DavidWails, 49, and 39-year-old Joseph Ritchie-Bennett – in the town centre park around 7pm on Saturday, June 20.

He appeared via video link and confirmed his name, age and his nationality, which is

Libyan.

The court remanded him into custody ahead of a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday, July 10. No trial date has been yet been set.

Saadallah appeared atWestminster Magistrates Court on Monday, where magistrates heard that the alleged attack lasted less than two minutes and that three men were declared dead at the scene: Mr Furlong and Mr Ritchie-Bennett were both stabbed once in the neck, while scientist MrWails was stabbed once in his back.

Three other people were injured in the assault: Stephen Young was with them, while Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan were in a nearby group. Mr Young received 28 stitches for a head wound, Mr Edwards was stabbed in the back and Mr Nisudan suffered wounds to his face and hand.

Prosecutor Jan Newbold said that Saadallah had bought the alleged murderweapon, a kitchen knife, from a supermarket the day before the incident and that he had stabbed his alleged victims without anywarning.

He was also alleged to have shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) during the incident.