Dramatic moment police Taser a knife-wielding one-armed roller skater moments after he stabbed three victims
- Benjamin Bridgeman on trial accused of attempted murder over Bristol incident
- The 38-year-old stabbed a man in the back and then slashed another in the head
- People raised the alarm and went after Bridgeman, with one also getting stabbed
- The defendant skated away towards city centre, before being stopped by police
- Bridgeman is facing eight charges – including three counts of attempted murder
This is the dramatic moment police officers confronted a one-armed knife-wielding roller skater – moments after he stabbed three people.
Benjamin Bridgeman, 38, is on trial accused of attempted murder following the shocking attacks in Knowle, Bristol, earlier this year.
The accused stabbed a man in the back before continuing on and slashing another in the head on February 25.
Members of the public then raised the alarm and went after Bridgeman – with one also getting stabbed as he tried to intervene.
The defendant then skated away towards the centre of the city before being stopped by the authorities.
Benjamin Bridgeman (pictured being tasered), 38, is on trial accused of attempted murder following the shocking attacks in Knowle, Bristol, earlier this year
The accused stabbed a man in the back before continuing on and slashing another in the head on February 25
Footage released by police today shows the moment Bridgeman, who was born with one arm, was detained.
Video from a nearby house and a body worn camera shows a police car screeching to a halt and officers getting out to challenge the defendant.
He then appears tries to skate away while appearing to reach for his pocket – before two officers Taser him and he falls to the floor.
Members of the public then raised the alarm and went after Bridgeman – with one also getting stabbed as he tried to intervene. Pictured: The knife
Other clips, shown to the jury at Bristol Crown Court, show the panic caused as the incident unfolded.
Bridgeman is now facing eight charges – including three counts of attempted murder.
He is also accused of three counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted wounding with intent and having an offensive weapon.
The court has heard he stabbed the men but he has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
An officer moves in to arrest the attacker as he lies on the ground after being tasered by them
The court is trying to establish his state of mind and a verdict of ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’ is available.
Richard Posner, prosecuting, has told the court the defendant was employed and of good character at the time of the incident but had suffered a psychotic breakdown.
He added the jury will have to decided if the he ‘was insane when he did what he did’ – as experts have agreed he was suffering from a ‘disease of the mind’.
The court has heard that a special verdict of ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’ is available.
The trial continues.