A Croydon man accused of murder told police he has no memory of the attack
Saadi, 20, from Croydon, is also charged with attempting to murder Leanne Miles. This all happened on May 24 at Durley Chine Beach.
In his police interview, he didn’t say much about the attack. He mentioned he was studying criminology because he was into true crime and horror movies.
He said he had been to Bournemouth before but was annoyed by the rain. He watched a slasher film called The Strangers and thought it was a good one.
Saadi claimed he felt “useless” without an income and couldn’t afford a nice hotel. He left the Travelodge around 2 PM on May 23 and said he couldn’t remember anything after that.
He mentioned drinking two bottles of cider, including one before leaving the hotel. He thought he might have been sleepwalking or blacked out.
When asked about the day of the attack, he said he remembered waking up at home but accepted he had been seen in a couple of stores.
Saadi insisted he was innocent and felt the evidence against him was weak. He claimed he wasn’t involved in the crime at all.
Prosecutors found several knives in his room, including a machete and a self-defense spray. They also discovered a rucksack with gloves and other items.
A pathologist testified that Ms. Gray died from ten knife wounds, while Ms. Miles suffered twenty injuries. Saadi has pleaded guilty to not providing his phone pin but denies the murder charges. The trial is ongoing.