Man guilty of student attack

A man has been found guilty of attacking a student who confronted him for queue jumping at a garage.

Adyl Kanata, 23, was stabbed in the stomach on 5 May, 2001, and then battered repeatedly over the head with a steering wheel lock, leaving him with irreversible brain damage.

London's Southwark Crown Court heard that he is now blind, immobile and remains in hospital "totally dependent" on round-the-clock nursing with no prospect of recovery.

On Friday, Daniel Barker, of Bekesbourne Street, Stepney, east London, was convicted of one count of wounding with intent.

The 28-year-old was cleared of a similar offence involving one of Mr Kanata's friends, who was also stabbed.

These people who stabbed my gentle boy and smashed him over the head not only destroyed his life but attacked our whole family Khadija Kanata

Judge George Bathhurst-Norman warned Barker, who had denied the charges claiming it was "mistaken identity", that prison was "inevitable".

Constance Briscoe, prosecuting, said the victim had spent a pleasant evening with friends in Hackney, east London, when they decided to get something to eat from a nearby garage.

But as they queued at the cashier's night window, Barker jumped the queue after filling his car.

Ms Briscoe said that after an initial exchange of words the defendant returned to his car and spoke to his two passengers.

One of the passengers then attacked Mr Kanata, stabbing him repeatedly in the stomach.

Remanded in custody

Yousaf Kavira, 20, one of Mr Kanata's friends, was stabbed as well.

CCTV tape seen by the jury showed Barker going to the boot of his car and returning with a Krooklok.

Wielding the weapon "like a baseball bat", he delivered a series of blows to the man's shoulder and head.

Ms Briscoe told the court Barker then drove off at speed.

Outside court, Adyl's mother, Khadija, said: "These people who stabbed my gentle boy and smashed him over the head not only destroyed his life but attacked our whole family."

Barker, who was the only person arrested, has been remanded in custody until 23 December for pre-sentence reports.