Cambridge Scaffolder Found Guilty of Murdering Saudi Student
A scaffolder from Cambridge has been convicted of murder after stabbing a young Saudi student in the neck during an unprovoked nighttime attack. Chas Corrigan, aged 22, was found guilty by a jury at Cambridge Crown Court following a two-week trial.
Details of the Fatal Attack
The incident occurred on August 1 last year, just after midnight, outside a block of luxury student accommodation in Cambridge. Mohammed Algasim, a 20-year-old Saudi national, was sitting on a low wall with friends, chatting and laughing, when Corrigan approached him.
Corrigan, who had been drinking heavily and had taken cocaine, exchanged words with Mr Algasim before walking away. Mr Algasim then made a further comment, which included the word 'centre', prompting Corrigan to return aggressively.
Chilling CCTV footage played in court showed Corrigan striding back to his victim, who stood up before being stabbed in the neck with a large kitchen knife. Mr Algasim ran away terrified, while Corrigan initially walked calmly before breaking into a sprint.
Trial and Conviction
Corrigan denied murder, claiming he carried the knife for protection due to previous attacks and that he only lashed out because he thought Mr Algasim was going to hurt him. He told jurors he had 'no idea' he had made contact with the victim.
However, the prosecution argued this was an unprovoked and senseless act of violence, not self-defence. The jury took less than two hours to convict Corrigan of murder. He showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered.
Aftermath and Sentencing
Mr Algasim was pronounced dead at the scene in the early hours of August 2, despite friends attempting to apply pressure to the wound before paramedics arrived. A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death was a 4.5-inch deep wound to the neck that cut a vital artery.
Sentencing has been postponed to a later date, with a pre-sentence report to be prepared. Corrigan's father, Peter, 50, has admitted assisting an offender after being spotted on CCTV retrieving his son's high-visibility jacket from bushes the day after the attack. Both men will be sentenced separately.
Family's Heartbreak and Warnings
Mr Algasim's family described him as a calm, kind-hearted young man who was spending his third summer in Cambridge at an English language camp. His uncle, Majed Abalkhail, expressed concern over rising violent crime, stating that the UK may no longer be a safe destination for students or tourists.
Corrigan, who threw away his jacket and the knife while fleeing, was arrested the day after the killing. Blood and urine samples confirmed he had consumed alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis, though toxicologists could not determine the exact effects at the time of the attack.
