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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Matthew Dresch

Doctor first thought vicious knife attack at his home by teenager was Halloween prank

A teenager who dragged a doctor out of his house and stabbed him nine times in a random, unprovoked attack has been jailed for life.

Chanz Maximen, 19, went on a knifing spree over a four-week period in October and November 2019 - choosing his victims at random.

He denied six offences at Bristol Crown Court but has now been given a life sentence with a minimum term of 12 years.

A jury found him guilty of five counts - attempted murder, GBH and three counts of possessing a bladed article - after hearing the blood of two of his victims were found on two separate items of clothing.

Chanz Maximen has been jailed for life for carrying out random knife attacks (Avon and Somerset Police / SWNS)

In the first attack Maximen knocked on the door of 52-year-old Adam Towler's home in Clifton, Bristol, on October 30, 2019.

Dr Towler initially thought the knock was a Halloween prank, but Maximen pulled him into the road and stabbed him nine times, including a blow that missed his heart by two centimetres.

Maximen told him "you killed the girl", a phrase that he has never explained and meant nothing to the victim or investigators.

Maximen sabbed Dr Adam Towler repeatedly, with one of his blows missing his heart by two centimetres (PA)

Maximen left the doctor for dead in the street and vacated the immediate vicinity but did not go far.

The victim, a former trauma specialist, managed to crawl back inside his house but was bleeding so profusely he was initially unable to use his phone keypad or facial recognition to call 999.

When he eventually managed to make the call, Maximen returned to the address and could be heard throwing his full body weight against the front door trying to force his way in.

Dr Towler described the door frame as "flexing" under his weight.

Police detained Maximen on the railway track near Clifton Down station (avonandsomerset police)

A month later, on 20 November, he walked up behind a 39-year-old man sat on a bench on Whiteladies Road and stabbed him in the face with a cheese knife.

The following day, officers were called to attend a property in Clifton after a 22-year-old woman reported being followed home by a man carrying a knife, who tried to force his way in.

He was disturbed by the victim's housemate.

Responding to this call, officers sighted Maximen walking on Whiteladies Road and pursued him through Westfield Park and several residential gardens before detaining him on the railway track near Clifton Down station.

Police found two knives on Maximen when he was finally caught (avonandsomerset police)

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He was found to be carrying two knives.

A search of his home was carried out while he was in custody and a number of items of clothing were seized.

Among the items were a pair of trainers an officer recognised were similar to those worn by the offender during the first attack, following an internal circulation of CCTV footage.

A forensic examination of the shoes found blood of his first victim while the blood of his second victim was discovered on the jacket he was wearing on his arrest.

Images of his first victim's address were also recovered from his mobile phone which the jury were told connected to a nearby phone mast at the time of the attack.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Kristina Windsor, said: "The determination and skill of all the officers and staff involved in this case - from the arresting officers, to those who searched Maximen's house and to the investigation team and forensic experts - has greatly impressed me and they deserve credit in building a case which has resulted in these convictions.

"The very thought of being randomly attacked by a stranger with a knife in your own home or while sat on a public bench is terrifying and I'd like to praise the immense bravery and courage all the victims and witnesses have shown.

"I'd also like to reassure the public that attacks of this nature are extremely rare in Avon and Somerset. When they do take place we take them extremely seriously and put all the resources required into catching those responsible."

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