UK News 15-11-2000 George Harrison: I Thought I Would Die who: George Harrison what: Thought he would die after stabbing, court is told where: Crown Court, OXFORD when: Yesterday snippet: "There were times during the violent struggle that I truly believed I was dying," said former Beatle George Harrison in a written statement to Oxford Crown Court yesterday, where 34 year-old Michael Abram has pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder on the grounds of insanity. Abram broke into Harrison`s Henley-on-Thames mansion in the early hours of December 30th 1999 and stabbed the star 10 times. Harrison`s wife Olivia saved her husband by smashing a poker and a vase over the attacker`s head. Harrison`s statement described how, fearing for the safetly of his wife and mother-in-law, he made a split-second decision to tackle the intruder who broke into his home in the early hours of the morning. However, he was overpowered. "I could feel blood entering my lungs," he recalls. "I could feel my chest deflate. I felt blood in my mouth and air exhale from my chest. I believed I had been fatally stabbed. My wife struck the man with the vase and he slumped down. I encouraged my wife to keep on hitting him." The trial is expected to continue for three or four days. [... more]

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