A murderous throat slasher is facing a lengthy prison sentence after carrying out an unprovoked and random attack on a man in a city centre bar.
Rory Witten suddenly took a blade to Stephen Finch's throat, neck and back for no apparent reason as he spoke to his DJ and barmaid friends in Sunderland. Newcastle Crown Court heard the pair had never met or spoken before the savage attack.
Now Witten, 40, of Stavordal Street, Seaham, County Durham, who didn't give evidence at his trial, has been found guilty of attempted murder and having a bladed article.
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Matthew Bean, prosecuting, said during the case: "The prosecution say on February 13 this year, having been at a series of bars in Seaham and Sunderland, he went to Bar Bloo, in Sunderland. Shortly before 8pm that evening he stood at the bar next to Stephen Finch.
"He had never met or spoken to him before. Without warning, the prosecution say, this defendant took a knife from his jacket and then approached Mr Finch and slashed him across the throat and stabbed him to the back of the neck and the back.
"Given the nature of the act the prosecution say you can find at the time of him assaulting Mr Finch he intended to kill him."
In a video recorded interview with police, Mr Finch, 48, said he had gone to the bar to see his friend, who was a DJ there and was talking to him and a barmaid, who he is friends with. He said: "I thought nothing of this person standing to the other of me, I didn't really take much notice. When they went behind me I thought he was just going to the toilet and then he came to the side of me and I just felt like a nudge in my neck.
"I thought nothing of it, I thought it was just messing about. Then I got another nudge then two more nudges to my neck as well. I must have gone off balance and hit the floor then I felt a few more nudges, I don't know where they landed.
"I didn't even realise I had been stabbed or injured until I heard my friend shout 'He's got a blade'. I went to move and and seen what I thought was a drink on the floor and it turned out it was my blood and I suddenly went cold."
He added: "Then I realised what had happened. It could've had something to do with the big pool of blood around me." Mr Finch said there had been no words exchanged or problem between him and his attacker. He said: "He didn't say a word, not a single peep was said.
"When I saw the pool of blood I thought it's something serious this."
Mr Justice Morris told Witten he will be sentenced once a pre-sentence report is compiled but remanded him in custody and warned him: "You will be facing a substantial custodial sentence but what that sentence will be I will decide one I've got the report."
Detective Sergeant John Baines, of Northumbria Police, said: “First and foremost, I would like to state that there is absolutely no place for violence in our communities.
“This was a shocking incident which saw Witten launch a violent and unprovoked attack on a man he did not know. Thankfully, the victim pulled through however this could have very easily resulted in a fatality.
“Witten has then gone on to prolong proceedings for the victim by continuing to plead his innocence throughout, despite strong CCTV and forensic evidence mounting against him. In the end, it was fantastic work by everyone involved including our Forensic Services Department who were able to locate numerous fingerprints on a pint glass that Witten was drinking from whilst in the premises – and also finding the weapon used at Witten’s address which showed traces of the victim’s blood.
“I am pleased that the jury has been able to convict Witten for his appalling crime, and we will continue to do everything we can to target perpetrators and bring effective justice against them.”
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