Man convicted of attempted murder of ex in 'frenzied' knife attack at Whiteley workplace
Carla Skeites survived being stabbed 17 times
A 38-year-old man who stabbed his ex-partner 17 times in a “frenzied” knife attack at the office building where she worked has been found guilty of her attempted murder.
Anwar Ashraf was convicted following a trial at Winchester Crown Court following the attack on Carla Skeites on the premises at 3600 Parkway in Whiteley, Hampshire, at about 9am on April 30 2025.
He had previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife, but he had denied that he wanted to kill her.
Giles Bedloe, prosecuting, told the trial that Ashraf had become “obsessed” with Ms Skeites and accused her of “cheating” on him, despite the relationship having ended.
Mr Bedloe said that on the morning of the attack, Ms Skeites was preparing for a training presentation at the travel agency where she worked when she received a message that Ashraf was outside the building and had asked to see her.
He said that Ms Skeites went to see him and after a “brief conversation, she told him to leave her along and go away” before “randomly he hugged her” and he followed her back into the lobby as she tried to move away from him.
The prosecutor added: “She was telling him he needed to leave. Suddenly he said: ‘I have a knife’ and showed her a black-handled kitchen knife.”
Mr Bedloe said that the victim later described the attack, saying: “Before I knew it, he was stabbing me.”
He continued: “She asked him to stop but he didn’t, then this frenzied attack stopped as soon as it started as other people came to help.”
The prosecutor said that the defendant was restrained by members of the public, with one man kicking his legs to knock him over before blocking his exit.
He said that this man described seeing “blood spurting out of her”, while the defendant had blood on his hands.
Another worker attempted to administer first aid and described the “terrified look” on Ms Skeites’ face
Mr Bedloe added: “Carla Skeites was rushed to hospital as she sustained multiple injuries as a result of this frenzied attack, including 17 individual stab wounds.”
The court was told that as Ashraf was detained by police, he said: “What would you do if your partner cheated on you, how would you react?”
Mr Bedloe added: “He admitted what he had done, he said he only wanted to scare her, he didn’t want to kill her.”
Ashraf, previously of Southsea, will be sentenced on June 5.