Video Crime Reports

Man handed life sentence for the attempted murder of a homeless man

A 29-year-old man who stabbed a rough sleeper in the neck has been jailed for life at Southwark Crown Court after he was found guilty of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a bladed weapon.

Egidijus Kotovas, 29, of Odvar Solbergs vei, Oslo, Norway, attacked Izet Mehmed, who was homeless at the time and sleeping in a doorway, near Liverpool Street station. Kotovas had been in the UK for three years at the time of his violent assault on Mehmed.

The court sentenced Kotovas to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years and 242 days. He will then be subject to license conditions for the rest of his life.

For the possession of two knives, Kotovas was given nine months for each offense, to be served concurrently.

In sentencing, the court also took into account the vulnerability of Kovotas’ victim and his previous convictions in Lithuania.

At around 4:10 am on 24 August 2022, Mehmed was sleeping on cardboard in a doorway in Blomfield Street near Liverpool Street station when, without any warning, Kotovas stabbed him in the neck.

The victim stumbled to get help and was found by two uniformed officers, Police Constable Amber Rose Kenny and Police Constable George Williams, lying face down outside a cafe on Bishopsgate, with serious injuries to his neck.

The officers immediately administered first aid before London Ambulance Service and London Air Ambulance arrived at the scene. Mehmed was rushed to the Royal London Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

An investigation was immediately launched, led by City of London Police Detective Constable, Dan Lambert.

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