The Bristol attempted child killer, Joel Binnings, a 20-year-old male, has been convicted of the crime of trying to kill a teenage boy whom he assaulted with a machete at a McDonald’s restaurant in Bristol.
Joel Binnings, a resident of Fishponds in Bristol, confessed to inflicting severe physical harm on his victim by repeatedly stabbing him at McDonald’s on The Horsefair on 8 February. However, he pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder him.
Nevertheless, a jury at Bristol Crown Court rendered a verdict of guilty for attempted murder after a four-day trial.
The jurors reached their conclusion after reviewing the closed-circuit television footage of the incident and listening to testimonies from witnesses in the McDonald’s establishment.
Within the CCTV footage, the victim was observed attempting to flee from Joel Binnings while raising his hands in a defensive posture.
Following the assault, Joel Binnings fled. Although pursued by a patrolling police officer in the city centre, he managed to escape the vicinity.
The detectives promptly identified Joel Binnings as the perpetrator, leading to his arrest a few days later.
Many individuals from the general public, including an off-duty nurse, assisted the victim before the arrival of the police and ambulance service.
He was transported to the hospital and had treatment for about four months, with two of those months spent in the intensive care unit.
He is still in the process of recuperating from his injuries, a few of which have had a profound impact on his life.
Detective Inspector Hannah Marsh, the senior investigating officer, said: “This was a horrendous attack on a teenage boy by another young man using a large knife in a very public place.
“Families and children were inside McDonald’s at the time of the incident and were traumatised by what they witnessed.
“The ferocity of the attack carried out by Joel Binnings was such that his victim is fortunate to be alive.
“The evidence provided to the court makes clear the impact the incident has had on him and lays bear the severe consequences of knife crime.
“The material we gathered which was presented to the jury left them with no doubt that Joel Binnings meant to kill his victim, and he now rightly can expect to spend a significant time behind bars.”
She added: “The victim, his family, and all those who’ve been involved in investigating this awful incident would like to thank the members of the public who came to his aid in the moments after the attack.
“They not only comforted and provided him with reassurance, but they also saved his life, and their humanity and public spiritedness deserve to be recognised.”
Following the verdict, Joel Binnings was remanded into custody before a sentencing hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, 11 October.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.