Tharrick
12-11-2005, 16:43
Stabbed Abigail's 'baby comfort'
Abigail Witchalls with her son Joseph
Mrs Witchalls was attacked as she pushed her son Joseph in his buggy
Stabbing victim Abigail Witchalls, who has given birth to her second child, has said carrying her baby gave her "great strength and comfort".
The Witchalls family, from Surrey, said in a statement on Saturday the boy was early, at 35 weeks, but was healthy.
Mrs Witchalls' husband, Benoit, said: "We are really looking forward to an exciting homecoming once more."
Last week, Mrs Witchalls, 26, left hospital after treatment for partial paralysis after the attack in April.
Prayers of thanksgiving were said on Saturday in Little Bookham, Surrey, where Mrs Witchalls was stabbed in front of her toddler son, close to her home.
And Father John Sheehy, at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, said prayers would continue for the family.
'An absolute miracle'
He said: "I am delighted the baby is safely delivered.
"We are all offering prayers of thanksgiving and will continue to pray for the welfare of the family."
One villager, who asked not to be named, said: "It is an absolute miracle that the baby was born.
"It shows that prayers are answered."
Mrs Witchalls was in the early stages of pregnancy when she was attacked while pushing her son Joseph in a buggy along a country lane near her home.
Abigail Witchalls with occupational therapist Emma Linley
Mrs Witchalls has slowly been regaining movement in hospital
She told police she turned to see her attacker holding a knife to her son's throat as she tried to open a gate in front of her.
She walked towards her would-be killer before being stabbed in the back of the neck and left with a three-inch wound.
Her pregnancy was revealed two months after the stabbing.
On Friday, she and her husband, Benoit, announced the birth of their second son at St George's Hospital in Tooting, who was due around Christmas.
They said that mother and baby, who weighed 5lbs 6oz, were both healthy, after the Caesarean section.
Surrey Police began investigating 23-year-old Richard Cazaly as a suspect in the stabbing after he apparently committed suicide in Scotland just 10 days after the attack.
A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service on 2 August.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4431046.stm
Abigail Witchalls with her son Joseph
Mrs Witchalls was attacked as she pushed her son Joseph in his buggy
Stabbing victim Abigail Witchalls, who has given birth to her second child, has said carrying her baby gave her "great strength and comfort".
The Witchalls family, from Surrey, said in a statement on Saturday the boy was early, at 35 weeks, but was healthy.
Mrs Witchalls' husband, Benoit, said: "We are really looking forward to an exciting homecoming once more."
Last week, Mrs Witchalls, 26, left hospital after treatment for partial paralysis after the attack in April.
Prayers of thanksgiving were said on Saturday in Little Bookham, Surrey, where Mrs Witchalls was stabbed in front of her toddler son, close to her home.
And Father John Sheehy, at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, said prayers would continue for the family.
'An absolute miracle'
He said: "I am delighted the baby is safely delivered.
"We are all offering prayers of thanksgiving and will continue to pray for the welfare of the family."
One villager, who asked not to be named, said: "It is an absolute miracle that the baby was born.
"It shows that prayers are answered."
Mrs Witchalls was in the early stages of pregnancy when she was attacked while pushing her son Joseph in a buggy along a country lane near her home.
Abigail Witchalls with occupational therapist Emma Linley
Mrs Witchalls has slowly been regaining movement in hospital
She told police she turned to see her attacker holding a knife to her son's throat as she tried to open a gate in front of her.
She walked towards her would-be killer before being stabbed in the back of the neck and left with a three-inch wound.
Her pregnancy was revealed two months after the stabbing.
On Friday, she and her husband, Benoit, announced the birth of their second son at St George's Hospital in Tooting, who was due around Christmas.
They said that mother and baby, who weighed 5lbs 6oz, were both healthy, after the Caesarean section.
Surrey Police began investigating 23-year-old Richard Cazaly as a suspect in the stabbing after he apparently committed suicide in Scotland just 10 days after the attack.
A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service on 2 August.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4431046.stm