Shop man guilty of Samurai sword attack

Angelo Lazarus, 21, chased after Leon Whyborne, 18, and slashed him on the leg and hand with the weapon in the early hours on October 11.

Hove Crown Court heard how Lazarus attacked Whyborne after newspapers outside the Londis store in Ninfield Road where he worked were set alight by youths.

Rakakaran Thurairajah, 28, who ran the store, admitted unlawful wounding on Mr Whyborne after he also gave chase and hit him with a bat.

Prosecutor Stephen Shay told the court how Mr Thurairajah ran the Londis store in Sidley where Lazarus was a sales assistant. Both men, who at the time of the attack lived opposite the shop in Ninfield Road, come from Sri Lanka.

Mr Shay said that the two men chased after a group of youths as they believed they were responsible for burning newspapers outside the shop.

"Mr Thurairajah's attention turned to Leon Whyborne," said Mr Shay. "Leon had been running away with some of the other youths. Mr Thurairajah produced an implement from his sleeve.

"Some witnesses, including Leon, describe the implement as being like a baseball bat. It is right to tell you that no baseball bat was found by police.

"Whatever the implement was, the prosecution case is that Mr Thurairajah hit Leon several times with it.

"He then called Mr Lazarus over. Leon started to run away again. Mr Lazarus gave chase and pulled out a samurai sword. He then proceeded to hit Leon with it.

"There was a cut to the thigh but really the serious injury and the reason why this very serious charge is made is the injury to the hand because Leon's hand was literally split in two,

"The samurai sword cut between the middle finger and the ring finger. It had to be put back together again surgically. It really was a very serious injury although not life threatening."

Lazarus was convicted of wounding at the end of a week-long trial on Tuesday. He was found not guilty of wounding with intent.

Thurairajah, now living in London, and Lazarus are to be sentenced on May 18.