Sarah Slater prosecuted a 5 day trial at W’ton CC in which Obdedulla Waffa was convicted unanimously by the jury on the 13th September 2024 of Attempted Murder and Possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced on the 3rd October 2024 to a total of 21 years in custody.
The offence occurred on the 19th August 2023 in Victoria Park, Smethwick. The Defendant stabbed the victim twice with a knife – once to the arm which caused a 15cm long wound which went down to his bone and another to the chest. One of the witnesses described the second blow as being “aimed at his heart”. The wound to his chest hit a major artery, causing significant blood loss. The Defendant fled the scene and tried to hide in a nearby barbers. The knife was never recovered.
The victim was taken to hospital, where his condition deteriorated, and he needed a blood transfusion and emergency surgery to repair the damage to his artery. During the trial, further medical evidence was adduced which confirmed that the victim’s injuries were life-threatening.
It was not until the 14th March 2024 though, that the police were able to link the Defendant to the stabbing. He was stopped by the police in Windmills retail centre in Smethwick. At the time he was concealing a Rambo style knife in his waistband and was arrested. The victim and two witnesses subsequently identified him as the attacker. The Defendant denied he was involved though and so the victim and both witnesses had to attend and give evidence to confirm their identification of him.
Yet another knife crime’ as would-be killer given 21 years for machete park attack – Express & Star
