18/05/2005

Abigail regaining some feeling in body

Stab victim Abigail Witchalls is beginning to regain some feeling in her body, it has been announced.

The 26-year-old was left paralysed after she was stabbed in the neck in an attack in Little Bookham, Surrey, on April 20. She had been returning from a mother and toddlers meeting with her 21-month-old son Joseph at the time.

In a statement released by the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, where Abigail is being treated, she said: “I have sensation over most of my body and the pain is less now. I can move my head, but as yet I cannot move my arms and legs.”

The statement also said that Abigail was now able to breathe and speak on her own for short periods.

The news comes as the BBC show ‘Crimewatch’ prepares to stage a reconstruction of the attack on Abigail on tonight’s show. Abigail’s husband, Benoit Witchalls, will also appear on the show tonight - he spoke publicly today about the attack for the first time. He told the show that Abigail was a “remarkable character” and said that the family felt “very lucky and very blessed because she is fully present as herself.”

Detective Superintendent Adrian Harper, who is leading the investigation into the attack, said that they had received over 700 calls with information about the case.

Detectives have also flown to Australia to interview the ex-girlfriend of suspect Richard Cazaly. The 23-year-old died in Scotland, after leaving Little Bookham five days after the attack on Abigail. He apparently took an overdose, after leaving short suicide notes which appeared to hint that he might have carried out the attack.

The reconstruction of the attack on Abigail Witchalls will be shown tonight on ‘Crimewatch’ on BBC 1 at 9pm.

(KMcA/SP)

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31 July 2006
Abigail Witchalls makes Lourdes pilgrimage
Abigail Witchalls, the young mother who was left paralysed after being stabbed in an attack last year, has made a pilgrimage to the famous shrine at Lourdes, it has been reported.
11 November 2005
Baby joy for Abigail Witchalls
Abigail Witchalls, who was left paralysed after being stabbed in the neck earlier this year, has given birth to a baby boy. Abigail 26, gave birth to the baby at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London, on Friday afternoon.
12 May 2005
Man questioned over Witchalls case takes overdose
A man questioned in relation to the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls has died from what is thought to be a drug overdose. Surrey Police confirmed that 23-year-old Richard Cazaly had died in hospital in Scotland. Mr Cazaly, a gardener who lived a short distance from where the attack occurred, had been questioned by police before he left for Scotland.
25 April 2005
Police begin to take statement from Abigail
Abigail Witchalls, the young expectant mother who was stabbed in the neck in an attack last week in Little Bookham, Surrey, is beginning the process of giving a statement to police about the attack. Police have said that the process is expected to be “very slow” and will take “some time” to complete.
22 April 2005
Young mother still critical as hunt continues for knife attacker
Surrey Police have said that they have received “very significant” information regarding the attack on twenty-six-year-old Abigail Witchalls yesterday.