Train stabbing terror ends in shock acquittal! Rakeem Thomas, 19, walked free after being found not guilty of attempted murder following a brutal stabbing on a south east London train.
Viral Video Captures Horrific Attack
On March 27, 2024, chaos erupted between Shortlands and Beckenham Junction when Thomas allegedly launched a savage attack on a man in his 20s. The terrifying stabbing, caught on camera, showed terrified passengers screaming, “f****** stop it” as the victim was repeatedly stabbed. The video quickly went viral, sparking outrage and leading to Thomas’s arrest.
Self-Defence Claims Spark Jury Debate
At Inner London Crown Court, Thomas claimed he acted in self-defence. Prosecutor Michael Williams said the fight started from a random encounter, with Thomas stabbing the victim multiple times before fleeing. Thomas was overheard telling his mother, “it was either him or me,” after the incident.
A witness who filmed the attack described Thomas pulling out a “Rambo-style knife” and stabbing the victim more than 20 times while he lay on the floor. Other passengers — including a woman with a child — were left horrified and backing away in fear.
Jury Accepts Thomas’s Account
Thomas said he blacked out during the stabbing and couldn’t recall how many times he struck the victim. He told police the victim had stabbed him in an earlier incident in 2020 or 2021 and that the victim actually brought the knife to the train before a struggle broke out — during which Thomas grabbed the weapon in panic.
After hearing the evidence, the jury accepted Thomas’s self-defence plea and acquitted him of attempted murder, wounding with intent, and affray.
Shock Verdict After High-Profile Case
The dramatic case, fuelled by the viral footage and public interest, has now closed. Thomas walks free despite the horrific violence on board. The incident has left many questioning safety on London’s trains and the limits of self-defence in violent confrontations.
