Man in Court Over Nude Church Sword Attack
Submitted By: Anonymous
Article Date: 06/07/2000
URL: http://www.goofball.com/news/20000671001
The trial of a man accused of attacking members of a church congregation in south London with a Samurai sword was resuming at the Old Bailey.
Eleven people were seriously injured on November 28 when a naked man slashed them with a sword and a knife at St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church near his home in Thornton Heath.
Eden Strang, 26, denies seven charges of attempted murder and six charges of assault.
The prosecuting lawyer, Nicholas Hilliard, told the London court that worshippers overcame the unemployed computer operator after tackling him with a crucifix and an organ pipe.
The court heard that Strang believed the congregation was composed of demons who had taken on human forms.
Hilliard told the jury the facts of the case were not disputed but they must decide whether to accept medical evidence that Strang was insane at the time of the alleged incident.