Man, 71, tried to kill man with meat cleaver

Thenakarayil will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on 16 July 2024

A 71-year-old man who wielded a meat cleaver as he carried out a serious assault has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Chacko Abraham Thenakarayil, of Hornbeam Gardens, Chelmsford, hit his victim in the back of the head and tried to stab him.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how, before he was arrested, he told witnesses: "I'm not finished."

Essex Police commended the bravery of neighbours who managed to take a weapon from Thenakarayil following the attack on 6 May 2023.

Two-week trial

He was found guilty of attempted murder after a two-week trial and will be sentenced on 16 July.

Thenakarayil was arrested when officers were called to Hornbeam Gardens at around 21:00 BST after reports of a man being assaulted.

The man - who suffered a fractured skull - managed to remove the cleaver and a knife from Thenakarayil and then ran to neighbours to call for help, police said.

The neighbours found Thenakarayil in the street holding another knife, which they also removed from him.

Det Sgt Louis Moore, of Essex Police, said: “Thenakarayil had no reason to assault this man and put his life in danger and the jury, consisting of twelve citizens who heard evidence, agreed this.

"I hope that this verdict means the victim can start to move forward," he added.