Beach fatal stabbing footage shown at murder trial

A man who stabbed two women - one fatally - was caught on CCTV beforehand loitering near them on a beach, a court has heard.

The friends were sitting by a fire near the water's edge when they were attacked by a stranger who was intent on a random killing, Winchester Crown Court was told.

Nasen Saadi, 20, from Croydon, denies murdering Amie Gray, 34, and attempting to murder her friend Leanne Miles, 38, at Durley Chine, Bournemouth, on 24 May.

Ms Gray, a sports coach from Poole, suffered 10 knife wounds including one to the heart, the jury heard.

The courtroom fell silent for several minutes as footage of the alleged murder was played.

The defendant could be seen remaining near the victims for half an hour as they sat in shadows by the fire, prosecutor Sarah Jones KC said.

At 23:38 BST, he walked on to the sand and launched the attack, the barrister added.

The video showed two figures moving away from the fire immediately after being approached.

Seconds later, an encounter left one person lying on the sand, before there was a second encounter between two figures a short distance away, according to the footage.

Amie Gray was pronounced dead at the scene

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue said Ms Gray died quickly from multiple stab wounds to her chest and arm.

Giving evidence, he said one knife thrust "cut deeply into the breastbone", penetrating her heart.

He said another stab wound severed an artery in the victim's left arm, causing severe bleeding.

Ms Miles' 20 injuries were mainly to her back, the pathologist said.

She had blood in the chest cavity around her right lung and a cut to her liver, the court heard.

He concluded: "All of the injuries are clearly incised wounds... as a result of stabbing with a knife having a single sharp edge." He said the blade need not have been more than 5-7cm (2-3 inches) long.

Both women appeared to have tried to fend off the attacks with their arms, he added.

Nasen Saadi booked into a Travelodge three days before the attacks, the court heard

In other footage shown to the jury, the defendant could be seen travelling by train to Bournemouth on 21 May, Ms Jones said.

He carried out several night-time recces of the area, wearing dark clothing and sunglasses, the prosecutor added.

On 23 May, he switched from a Travelodge to the Silver How Hotel, the court heard.

On the night of the attack, he arrived at the beach at 23:06, the jury was told.

Footage showed Mr Saadi walking up and down the promenade before attacking the woman and walking back to his hotel, Ms Jones said.

Previously she told the court the defendant had planned a random killing.

In March and April, Mr Saadi carried out internet searches for "deadliest knife", "machete" and "what hotels don't have CCTV", the prosecutor previously said.

Ms Jones concluded: "He seems to have wanted to know what it would be like to take life."

In a video played in court on Monday, Ms Miles described how she pleaded for her life for the sake of her children.

Speaking from her hospital bed, three days after the attack, she said: "I just remember we turned around, and I looked at this boy.

"He went towards me first - because I remember Amie saying: 'What are you doing? Get off her.'"

Her voice shaking with emotion, Ms Miles described how she lost sight of her friend as they fled, but heard her saying: "Get off me".

She continued: "He came back on to me and he was continuously stabbing me.

"I said: 'Please stop, I've got children.' And then I think that's when he started to go, he walked away."

Mr Saadi has pleaded guilty to failing to give the police access to his mobile phone.

The trial continues.

The defendant denies charges of murder and attempted murder