Man denies attempted murder after boy, 14, stabbed

A MAN accused of stabbing a city schoolboy in the neck has denied attempted murder.

Phillip O'Sullivan, of Coundon Road, Coventry, appeared via video link at Warwick Crown Court from HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, where he is being held.

The 32-year-old pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of the 14-year-old, who was stabbed in the neck - almost completely severing his jugular vein - outside a store in Upper Spon Street, in October last year.

Peter Cooper, defending, said O‘Sullivan says he has no memory of an injury, and a further medical report will need to be prepared because it was not possible to tell what was a post-injury incision based on the original report.

He told the judge he had asked for O’Sullivan to be brought to court so he could have a face-to-face conference with him about the case and to discuss some new evidence.

Because he was not brought, there was a draft defence statement, but not one signed by O’Sullivan, Mr Cooper pointed out.

Prosecutor Emma Cutts, who confirmed a large amount of additional evidence had been served, said the trial is expected to last four or five days, depending on any further medical evidence.

“The Crown will be seeking expert evidence to look at the depth of the particular arteries and the force needed to penetrate the neck to cause the injuries suffered,” she explained.

The court heard the trial could be heard in late April – and Miss Cutts asked that it should not be later than that because the boy is studying for his GCSEs which he is due to sit in the summer.