Cambridge Man Convicted of Murdering Saudi Student in Unprovoked Attack
Chas Corrigan, a 22-year-old from Cambridge, has been found guilty of murdering Mohammed Algasim, a 20-year-old Saudi Arabian language student, in a brutal and unprovoked stabbing incident. The attack occurred outside student accommodation near Cambridge's train station on August 1 of last year, with the verdict delivered on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Details of the Senseless Violence
Mohammed Algasim, who was on a 10-week placement studying English in the UK, was sitting on a low wall with a group of others when Corrigan approached. According to prosecutor Nicholas Hearn at Cambridge Crown Court, Algasim "posed no threat to anybody" and had never met Corrigan before. The stabbing was described as an "unprovoked and senseless act of violence" that resulted in Algasim's death from a single stab wound to the neck, severing critical arteries and causing massive bleeding.
CCTV Evidence and Witness Accounts
The incident was captured by high-quality CCTV footage outside the student accommodation. Witness Abdullah Bin Shuail, a fellow student of Algasim, testified that Corrigan initially walked away after a brief exchange but turned back aggressively when Algasim said something, with Bin Shuail only catching the word "centre." Corrigan then returned, asking "what did you say, what did you say?" in an angry manner before punching Algasim in the neck and revealing a large kitchen knife in his right hand.
Prosecutor Hearn noted that Corrigan had been drinking in a pub and may have used drugs prior to the attack. Despite denying murder, Corrigan admitted to possession of a knife, but the jury found him guilty based on the overwhelming evidence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, facing a significant prison term for this heinous crime.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about knife violence in urban areas, particularly affecting international students and young people. The community in Cambridge has expressed shock and sorrow over the loss of a promising student whose life was cut short in such a tragic manner.
