Spurned lover 'attempted to kill man' at Smethwick Galton Bridge station

Michael Daniels armed himself with a large meat knife before tailing Sapphire Smith, her teenage child and Sebastian 'Benji' Oliver onto the platform at Smethwick Galton Bridge station, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Then the jilted 44-year-old launched a murderous attack on defenceless Mr Oliver, who was facing the other way when he struck, explained Mr Robert Price, prosecuting.

The victim told the jury: "I felt something hit me in the back and then hit me again. I turned round and saw him holding a knife that was 12 inches from handle to tip.

"I remember putting my hands up and saying that I had not done anything. He lunged at me again and caught me under the armpit. Then I just tried to get away. I feared for my life."

Sapphire Smith attempted to pull Daniels backwards as Mr Oliver jumped onto the track but she was pushed onto the railway line as the defendant started to chase the fleeing man, continued Mr Price.

Miss Smith was helped off the track by her daughter while the victim pulled himself on to the platform on the other side of the railway line.

"An adrenaline rush kicked in and assisted him despite his grievous injuries," explained the prosecutor.

The defendant returned to where the stabbing had taken place and left the station allegedly shouting: 'it ain't finished. I am going to kill Benji'.

One wound punctured the victim's left lung while others penetrated his liver and right kidney, the court heard. He was kept in hospital for four days but did not require surgery.

Daniels gave himself up to police on December 13 last year, the day after the attack.

He admits stabbing the victim, who was living in West Bromwich at the time, but denies trying to murder him, the court heard.

Mr Price maintained: "This does not reflect the reality and gravity of what took place. It was through luck rather than judgement that the victim survived.

"He suffered extremely grave injuries in a concerted, sustained and determined attack involving multiple stabbings.

"The only sensible conclusion that can be drawn is that, in those few moments of madness, the defendant was determined to end the life of his victim."

Daniels would not accept his relationship with Sapphire Smith had ended some months earlier and refused to believe her friendship with Mr Oliver was purely platonic, it was said.

'Paranoia, jealousy and doubtless rumour' convinced him the pair were lovers and this belief 'consumed' him, claimed the prosecutor.

Daniels, of no fixed address, admits wounding with intent but denies attempted murder and the case continues.