Man in court after staff member shot with crossbow at student village
Almunthir Daqamah, 21, is alleged to have shot campus safety officer Robert Tytler
A 21 year-old man, accused of attempted murder after a university staff member was shot in the stomach with a crossbow at a student village, has appeared in court.
Saudi national, Almunthir Daqamah, 21, is alleged to have shot campus safety officer Robert Tytler, after he was asked to vacate the University of Surrey’s Manor Park Student Village in Guildford, Surrey, on Thursday morning.
Daqamah appeared at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning, and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Prosecutor Lucy Lumsden told the hearing security officers at the student village had been asked to deal with the defendant, who had been seen sleeping in one of the common rooms, at around 8am on Thursday.
“It transpired that the defendant was a former student in the university,” Ms Lumsden said.
Daqamah was reportedly asked to leave the common room and went to sit on a bench outside the building, the court was told.
Mr Tytler, along with a colleague, was then asked to remove the defendant from the premises, Ms Lumsden said.
Daqamah allegedly shot Mr Tytler in the stomach with a single crossbow bolt from close range, Ms Lumsden said.
The prosecutor added that the bolt “thankfully and miraculously missed all his organs and bowel”.
“When police arrived, they searched the defendant who was also found to be in possession of a zombie-style knife and a lock knife,” the prosecutor alleged.
A quantity of marijuana was also allegedly found on the defendant, the court heard.
The prosecutor further told the court inquiries are still ongoing as to how long the defendant has been staying in the UK.
The court heard Mr Tytler remains in hospital but is recovering well.
The defendant is charged with the attempted murder of Mr Tytler, possession of an offensive weapon, two counts of possession of a bladed article and possession of class B drugs, the court was told.
Daqamah, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Guildford Crown Court on July 9.