Colchester: Tom Saunders stabbed three victims more than 60 times

Tom Saunders, 35, inflicted more than 40 stab wounds on his nephews Danny and Jason Gibson, before stabbing his friend Richard Booth 21 times through an open car window.

Ipswich Crown Court heard after the attack, he told his mother: “Don’t worry, I made sure I finished them off, so they are definitely dead.”

Karim Khalil QC, prosecuting, said police first received a call from Saunders’ mother Christine at around 10.12pm on October 5, 2019.

READ MORE: Man admits killing two relatives and acquaintance in Wellesley Road

She said Saunders had come to her home “covered in blood”, telling her he had been in a fight with Danny and Jason.

She said she was concerned for Danny and Jason and said they lived in a ground-floor flat in Wellesley Road.

The court heard the police told Christine they were unable to respond at that time.

More than an hour later, at 11.57pm, the police were told Saunders had killed Jason and Danny with a knife and had harmed another man called Rick.

But it wasn’t until 12.26am, when Saunders’ brother Peter rang Essex Police from Hospital Road, in Colchester, that officers responded.

Peter told officers he had found a man dead inside a vehicle.

From 12.28am onwards, police officers arrived at the flats and found Richard Booth inside his vehicle in the rear car park.

The bodies of Danny and Jason were found inside the flat.

The scene in Wellesley Road

Mr Booth’s car was fitted with a dash cam which recorded the moments before he was attacked.

The footage shows Saunders’ van in the car park as Mr Booth reversed into a space.

Saunders and Mr Booth can be heard exchanging greetings, before Saunders stabs Mr Booth repeatedly through an open window.

The court was told a few days before the killings, Saunders had made comments to his brother such as: “They are coming to kill us”, “It’s like the purge” and “We’re all going to be murdered”.

Mr Khalil said Saunders’ brother had judged the defendant to be dangerous and had tried to persuade their mother to call a doctor.

He added: “His prediction of the level of dangerousness presented by the defendant proved to be all too accurate.”

The court heard Saunders believed Danny Gibson was “out to get him” and that Saunders was friends “on and off” with Jason.

Mr Khalil said Saunders was friends with Richard Booth, but also said he disliked him and “kept him close to make sure he wasn’t against him”.

The Gibson brothers and Richard Booth

Mr Khalil said each victim was attacked “in a frenzied manner with a lethal knife”.

“He targeted, deliberately, their head and neck regions and added additional stab wounds to vulnerable areas of the torso when possible,” he said.

“He was calculating and devastatingly effective in his approach. It is remarkable he managed to kill three men in such a brutal manner.

“He made it clear to his mother afterwards he had set out to kill each of them, and he made sure he carried out his intention.”

Saunders, of Bounstead Road, Colchester, was arrested and a lengthy investigation into his mental health followed.

All forensic psychiatrists involved in the case agreed Saunders suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.

Saunders admitted three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, pleas which were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

A sentencing hearing is expected to last three days.