18/05/2005

Abigail regaining some feeling in body

Stab victim Abigail Witchalls is beginning to regain some feeling in her body, it has been announced.

The 26-year-old was left paralysed after she was stabbed in the neck in an attack in Little Bookham, Surrey, on April 20. She had been returning from a mother and toddlers meeting with her 21-month-old son Joseph at the time.

In a statement released by the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, where Abigail is being treated, she said: “I have sensation over most of my body and the pain is less now. I can move my head, but as yet I cannot move my arms and legs.”

The statement also said that Abigail was now able to breathe and speak on her own for short periods.

The news comes as the BBC show ‘Crimewatch’ prepares to stage a reconstruction of the attack on Abigail on tonight’s show. Abigail’s husband, Benoit Witchalls, will also appear on the show tonight - he spoke publicly today about the attack for the first time. He told the show that Abigail was a “remarkable character” and said that the family felt “very lucky and very blessed because she is fully present as herself.”

Detective Superintendent Adrian Harper, who is leading the investigation into the attack, said that they had received over 700 calls with information about the case.

Detectives have also flown to Australia to interview the ex-girlfriend of suspect Richard Cazaly. The 23-year-old died in Scotland, after leaving Little Bookham five days after the attack on Abigail. He apparently took an overdose, after leaving short suicide notes which appeared to hint that he might have carried out the attack.

The reconstruction of the attack on Abigail Witchalls will be shown tonight on ‘Crimewatch’ on BBC 1 at 9pm.

(KMcA/SP)

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29 April 2005
Police granted more time to question Abigail suspect
Surrey police have been granted more time to question a 25-year-old man in connection with the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls last week. The man was arrested on Wednesday evening in Croydon, south London and is being held in custody at Staines police station. Police will now be able to question him until Saturday morning.
04 May 2005
Abigail transferred to spinal injuries unit
Abigail Witchalls, the young mother who was stabbed in the neck in a horrific attack two weeks ago, has been transferred to a specialist spinal injuries unit. The 26-year-old had been in St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London since the attack, which left her paralysed.
19 May 2005
Re-enactment provides new leads in Abigail stabbing
Surrey police have said they have received some significant information regarding the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls. A reconstruction of the attack, which happened in Little Bookham, Surrey, last month, appeared on BBC 1’s ‘Crimewatch’ show last night.
26 April 2005
Abigail’s attacker held knife to son’s throat
The man who stabbed young mother Abigail Witchalls in the neck first held a knife to the throat of her 21-month-old son Joseph, police said. Mrs Witchalls, who is still in St Georges Hospital in south London, following the attack in Little Bookham, Surrey, last Wednesday, gave her statement to the police yesterday.
10 June 2005
New witness in Abigail stabbing case
Police have confirmed that a new witness has come forward in the investigation into the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls. The development emerged after Abigail, who is still being treated in hospital following the attack in April, had failed to pick out suspect Richard Cazaly in a photo identity parade.