Knifed in chest by blood-lust terrorist
LONDON Bridge terror attack victims Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt died after being stabbed in the chest, an inquest heard yesterday.
Cambridge University graduates Saskia, 23, and Jack, 25, were killed by convicted terrorist Usman Khan in his deadly rampage at a prisoner rehabilitation event on Friday.
Khan died from “multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen” after being shot by armed police, a separate inquest heard.
The terrorist, who was armed with two knives and wore a fake suicide vest, was tackled to the ground by members of the public after being confronted by delegates in Fishmongers’ Hall, London Bridge.
Passionate
Both Saskia and Jack were attacked inside the hall, the Old Bailey heard.
Pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl said both of them died from shock and haemorrhaging after being stabbed in the chest.
The court heard Saskia had graduated from Cambridge University last year with a master’s degree in criminology and had applied to join West Midlands Police.
She was said to be “passionate about victim support” and planned to use her role in the police to further her PhD at Oxford University.
Saskia was declared dead 2.25pm, the inquest heard.
Jack also had a master’s degree in criminology at Cambridge, having at already completed a law Manchester University.
Jack, from Cottenham, Cambs, was a coordinator for Learning Together, a programme associated with Cambridge University’s Institute of Criminology.
Police carried him out of the hall on a stretcher and paramedics battled to keep him alive but he was pronounced degree at dead at 3.14pm. Detective Superintendent Des McHugh said he was moved because the area had been evacuated as it wasn’t clear if the public was still in danger.
Saskia, from Stratfordupon-Avon, Warks, was a volunteer for the programme which aims to bring offenders and people in higher education to study alongside each other.
A separate inquest heard Khan, who was released from Woodhill Prison on Christmas Eve, joined the Learning Together programme towards the end of his sentence. He attended the event Fishmongers’ Hall to take part group workshops.
He was shot by armed police on London Bridge, having been restrained by members of the public, Det Supt McHugh added.
Khan, 28, was pronounced dead on the bridge at 3.07pm, the court was told.
Coroner Alison Hewitt confirmed the chief coroner for England and Wales, Mark Lucraft QC, would hear the full inquests into the deaths of Saskia and Jack as well as Khan on dates to be fixed.
The fresh inquests come just months after the conclusion of those into the deaths of eight innocent people during the 2017 London Bridge terror attack. at in