Woman who lunged with knife found guilty of grave and criminal assault

Thursday 23 November 2023

A woman who lunged at a man with a kitchen knife has been found guilty of grave and criminal assault – despite her victim testifying in court that she had not meant to harm him.

During a three-day Royal Court trial, 37-year-old Nilza Vieira maintained that she had only wanted to stop the man filming her on his mobile phone, and that the knife wound he sustained to his right leg was an accident.

But after just over three hours of deliberating, the jury of six men and six women at her Assize Trial found her guilty of the charge by 11 to one.

The victim of the attack had spoken in Vieira’s defence, saying he believed she had not meant to harm him in the attack on 25 November last year, and only intended to frighten him.

He added that he did not even notice the wound to his right thigh until afterwards.

Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, told the jury that the offence was “a clear and obvious grave and criminal assault”.

She pointed out that the video recording on the man's phone showed that Vieira had aimed the knife towards his body, and did not appear to be trying to knock the phone from his hands.

Commissioner Alan Binnington was presiding over the trial. Vieira is due to receive the date of her sentencing on Friday.

Following the verdict, Investigating officer, Detective Constable Charles Vibert, said: “Although in this case the complainant didn’t wish to support a prosecution, the use of a knife in this assault escalates the seriousness of the offence and it is right that Vieira has faced the consequences of her actions on that night. 

“Her intention was to cause harm and her victim was extremely fortunate to have not suffered a more serious injury. 

"Crimes such as these should never be tolerated, and we will do everything in our power to see offenders face justice.”