Chelmsford: Man found guilty of attempted murder

A man has been found guilty of attempted murder after seriously assaulting a man with a meat cleaver in Chelmsford.

Chacko Abraham Thenakarayil, 71 of Hornbeam Gardens, Chelmsford appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today (26 June), where following a two week trial he was found guilty of attempted murder.

Thenakarayil was arrested on Saturday, 6 May 2023 after officers were called to Hornbeam Gardens at around 9pm following reports of a man being seriously assaulted.

Enquiries revealed that Thenakarayil had assaulted the victim inside an address by hitting him with a meat cleaver in the back of the head. Thenakarayil also attempted to stab the victim with a knife.

The victim managed to remove the weapons from Thenakarayil and run away to neighbours to call for help. When neighbours came to help, they found Thenakarayil in the street holding a third knife which they bravely removed from him.

The victim was taken to hospital after losing around 500ml of blood and sustaining a fracture to his skull.

Prior to being arrested, Thenakarayil implied that he intended to kill the victim, saying to witnesses “I’m not finished.”

Thenakarayil was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and charged the following day and remanded into custody.

Following a trial which started at Chelmsford Crown Court on 10 June, he was found guilty of attempted murder on Wednesday, 26 June.

He will appear at the same court on 16 July for sentencing.

Detective Sergeant Louis Moore said “I want to commend the bravely of those affected by the actions of Chacko Abraham Thenakarayil in May last year.

“This has been a complex and emotional investigation and Thenakarayil’s actions have had a devastating impact on the victim and his family.

“I also have to commend the bravery of the neighbours who managed to remove the weapon from Thenakarayil before he could harm anyone else.

“Thenakarayil had no reason to assault this man and put his life in danger and the jury, consisting of twelve citizens who heard evidence agreed this.

I hope that this verdict means the victim can start to move forward.”