Drug addict Stephen Boorman guilty of attempted to murder man with butcher's knife in Folkestone
by Alex Claridge
A vicious drug addict who knifed a man in Folkestone has
been convicted of attempted murder.
Stephen Boorman, pictured right, repeatedly stabbed Darren
McMorran four times in an "unprovoked, frenzied and violent" attack
at a flat in Black Bull Road.
Canterbury Crown Court heard the 28-year-old, who had only
just been released from prison, used a butcher's knife during the
attack.
Mr McMorran ran out into the street after the attack and
only survived thanks to the actions of passers-by.
DI Gavin Moss, from Kent Police, said: "This was a horrific
attack and the victim was lucky to escape from it with his
life.
"Mr McMorran was curled up on the pavement and losing vast
amounts of blood. Despite being faced with an alarming incident a
number of people rushed to help the victim.
"Not only did they administer life saving first aid but they
also contacted the emergency services, giving clear and concise
information which allowed both the police and paramedics the best
possible chance of saving Mr McMorran’s life whilst preserving
crucial evidence."
Boorman denied attempted murder, claiming there was an
unidentified man at the flat who carried out the attack on the
evening of August 16 last year.
But a jury took just over two hours to return a unanimous guilty
verdict.
Dominic Connolly, prosecuting, had earlier told
them Mr McMorron was in the town when he met Boorman, who was
drinking a can beer.
Boorman, of Coolinge Road, complained his partner had kicked him
out and that he was an a curfew.
"It is perfectly clear to me that you are very dangerous and are facing a long sentence..." – Judge James O'Mahony
They then bumped into a third man called Dannie Phillips,
who told them he had bought crack cocaine.
They walked to Mr Phillips' flat in Black Bull Road. Mr Phillips
and Boorman smoked the crack through a bottle while McMorran drank
cider.
Mr Phillips and Boorman began arguing about the crack and Mr
McMorran moved away.
He then described feeling three "bangs" on his back and turned
around to see Boorman wielding a knife in his right hand. Boorman
then stabbed him again in the chest.
Mr Connolly said: "He fell to his knees. There was a great deal
of blood coming from his wounds.
"He was in fear for his life and managed to crawl to the front
door of the flat. Boorman was still trying to attack him while
Phillips was holding him back.
"He staggered outside and on to Black Bull Road, where he
managed to get his phone out and speak to emergency services before
collapsing on the pavement and losing consciousness."
Thug Stephen Boorman was
found guilty at Canterbury Crown Court
Mr Connolly added: "It was an unprovoked, frenzied and violent
attack.
"It is also clear that Stephen Boorman was heavily intoxicated
from alcohol and crack cocaine and that this self-induced
intoxication contributed to his behaviour on the evening in
question."
The stab wound to Mr McMorran's chest was just centimetres from
his heart and Mr Connolly told the jury that had it not been for
the efforts of passers-by, ambulance staff and surgeons at the
Royal London Hospital, he would have died.
He said Boorman's claims to police that there was a fourth man
in the flat who carried out the attack was a ruse to deflect blame
from himself.
Boorman was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in
March.
Judge James O'Mahony told him: "It is perfectly clear to me that
you are very dangerous and are facing a long sentence."
08/02/13
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