Student carried out knife attacks after end of trial

Less than 24 hours after he was acquitted, Eric Samo struck in Middlesbrough, targeting people at random.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 29-year-old burst into a terraced house, where he attacked student Richard Laven, 21, severing an artery in his arm.

He then cut 41-year-old Marlene Hunter, the mother of Mr Laven's girlfriend, across the throat.

Both needed emergency treatment.

Samo, of Glentworth House, Netherfields, Middlesbrough, then attacked six police officers before he was overpowered.

Samo's barrister had warned that his client was dangerous following the earlier trial.

His present lawyer, Peter Makepeace, read a statement from barrister Michael Bosomworth, who had successfully defended Samo during the week-long rape trial last October.

He had been frightened by Samo's transformation during the case, and said: "He was almost like a wild animal. There was a degree of menace, I was genuinely frightened."

The barrister went to warn the judge and ask that a doctor examine him, but Samo was released by the court after the not guilty verdict was returned.

Psychiatrists who examined Samo after the knife attacks said they believed that he was suffering from an acute and transient psychotic disorder, possibly brought on by the stress of his trial.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, said witnesses described how Samo had an evil grin on his face when he burst into Mr Laven's house, in Acton Street, on October 11.

During the rape trial, also at Teesside Crown Court, he was accused of holding a 28-year-old woman at knifepoint.

Judge Mr Justice Henriques directed the jury to return verdicts of not guilty to two charges of attempted murder and four counts of attempting to wound with intent, by reason of insanity.

Samo, whose parents are from Cameroon, was remanded in custody until next Wednesday.

The judge will then decide whether Samo should be treated at St Luke's secure psychiatric hospital, in Middlesbrough