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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Sophie McCoid

Man who killed Liverpool teacher in park stabbing spree pleads guilty to three murders

A man has pleaded guilty to murdering a Liverpool teacher and two other men in a stabbing spree in a park.

Khairi Saadallah, 26, had been due to go on trial at the Old Bailey on November 30.

But at a hearing on Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to three murders and three attempted murders.

Saadallah launched a two-minute stabbing spree in Forbury Gardens, Reading, shortly before 7pm on Saturday June 20.

James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, all died, while three others - their friend Stephen Young, and Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan, who were sitting in a nearby group - were injured.

History teacher Mr Furlong and Mr Ritchie-Bennett, a US citizen, were each stabbed once in the neck while scientist Mr Wails was stabbed once in the back. All three died at the scene.

Mr Furlong, originally from Liverpool, was head of history, government and politics at The Holt School in Wokingham at the time of his death.

He had previously taught at Liverpool's King David High School.

Saadallah, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, entered his guilty pleas in the dock of court two of the Old Bailey.

Wearing a red and white beany hat and grey jacket, the defendant's voice appeared muffled as he spoke while wearing a face mask.

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Members of the victims' families sat in court for the hearing before Mr Justice Sweeney.

The judge told the court the defendant had submitted a basis of plea, denying substantial preparation or planning and saying he was not motivated by an ideological cause, in contrast with the prosecution case.

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