Migrant who allegedly stabbed asylum hotel welfare officer faces trial next year
Somalia-born Abdifatah Adani appeared at Guildford Crown Court earlier today.
A provisional trial date has been set for a small boat migrant who allegedly slashed a welfare officer with a large kitchen knife at a hotel housing asylum seekers.
Somalia-born Abdifatah Adani, 22, repeatedly stabbed welfare officer Aaron Gomes with a large kitchen knife at the Stanwell Hotel in Stanwell, Surrey, at around 6.30pm on August 15, prosecutors said previously.
Armed officers from Surrey Police were called to the scene and Adani was later charged with one count of attempted murder.
He appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday, but was not asked to enter pleas.
A case management hearing was set for November 3 at the same court, with a provisional five-day trial scheduled to begin on February 15 2027.
The defendant was assisted by a Somali interpreter during the short hearing.
Prosecutor Lucy Lumsden told Staines Magistrates’ Court last month: “The complainant, Aaron Gomes, was employed as a welfare officer at the asylum hotel.
“This defendant has stabbed him multiple times until Mr Gomes lost balance before managing to escape.
“Police attended and began giving Mr Gomes first aid.
“He had lost a significant amount of blood, was very pale and going in and out of consciousness.”
Ms Lumsden said that Mr Gomes sustained five knife wounds, two to the upper body and three to his leg.
Among them was a “significant” injury to his upper body, after the blade penetrated his chest cavity, Ms Lumsden said.
The court heard that the defendant entered the UK via a small boat.