A man in his 20s was brutally stabbed just after midnight on October 30, 2021, while walking with friends on the bridge between Station Road and Valkyrie Road, Westcliff. The attacker, wearing a balaclava, approached the victim before launching a vicious assault.
The assailant stabbed the victim multiple times—initially once, then again in the neck and body after the victim collapsed to the ground. Following the attack, the assailant fled towards Station Road.
One of the victim’s friends quickly administered first aid and sought help from nearby houses before emergency services were called. Police officers who arrived on the scene also provided life-saving first aid while waiting for the ambulance.
The victim was rushed to hospital with a collapsed lung and underwent emergency surgery to save his life.
Following extensive CCTV investigations, detectives from the Major Crime team identified 23-year-old Curtis Butler and traced him to a block of flats on Grosvenor Road. Witnesses confirmed Butler’s involvement in the stabbing.
Butler, from Great Gregorie, Basildon, was arrested in April 2022 and charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife in a public place. Despite denying the charges, he was convicted at Basildon Crown Court on April 17, 2024. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2024.
Meanwhile, Paul Butler, 22, of Royston Avenue, Southend, who faced witness intimidation charges, was found not guilty.
Detective Inspector Kev Hughes described the attack as “brutal and unprovoked,” stating: “This was a brutal and unprovoked attack which left the victim fighting for his life. The reality is this assault could very easily have been fatal.”
He added, “Our investigation established this was a premeditated attack. Curtis Butler intended to kill the victim. He now faces a significant amount of time in prison for his actions.”
Detective Inspector Hughes also praised the quick thinking and actions of the victim’s friends and the officers who administered life-saving first aid before paramedics arrived.
Originally published by UKNIP.
