Stabbing of George Harrison

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Stabbing of George Harrison
Lodge at Friar Park - geograph.org.uk - 1588804.jpg
Entrance and gatehouse of Friar Park, the Harrison family estate
Date30 December 1999 (1999-12-30)
Timec. 3.30 AM GMT
LocationFriar Park
MotiveDelusions of divinity and belief that Harrison was the Antichrist
PerpetratorMichael Abram
Non-fatal injuries3 (George wounded severely; Abram and Olivia lightly) [a]
VerdictNot guilty by reason of insanity; sentenced to life in a mental asylum

On 30 December 1999, George Harrison, a musician and former member of the Beatles, was stabbed at Friar Park, his estate in Oxfordshire. The perpetrator, Michael Abram, was a 34-year old paranoid schizophrenic from Liverpool. While Harrison survived the encounter, he died of cancer on 29 November 2001, having previously conquered a first bout of the disease; those who knew him speculated that the stabbing had triggered the cancer's recurrence. [1]

Contents

Background

Suspect

Michael Abram
Born1966 (age 58–59)
Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
OccupationFormer telemarketer
Known forAttempted murder of George Harrison
Criminal statusReleased since 2002
Children2
Criminal chargeAttempted murder
PenaltyLife in a mental asylum

Michael Abram (born c. 1966) was from Liverpool, Merseyside, the same city as Harrison. He had been a talented student at St Columba's Comprehensive School in Huyton. [2] He entered the telesales business sometime in the 1980s, and had a wife, Jeanette, and two children. Abram's mother, Lynda, asserted at the time that the pressures of the job had resorted him to take heroin and cannabis. Following a violent argument, Abram was admitted to a mental hospital for the first time in 1990; he would be admitted several times throughout the decade, and had become "desperately ill" by the end of the 1990s, by which he had resolved to kill Harrison. [3]

Abram had suffered from schizophrenia and delusions, believed by mental health specialists to have been worsened by drug consumption, and regarded himself as the archangel Michael and sent by God to kill Harrison. [3]

A month before the intrusion, Abram had spent two weeks in a Merseyside psychiatric ward, but had been removed after allegedly attacking a member of the nursing staff, [2] and having been deemed to not have any mental illnesses. [4]

Security at the estate

Harrison had become increasingly concerned about security following the murder of fellow Beatle John Lennon in 1980; [5] local residents had equated Harrison's estate to Fort Knox. Security had already been increased following repeated death threats, [6] a stalking incident in 1992 and a break-in attempt in 1997, resulting in searchlights and high barbed-wire fences being implemented. Additionally, guard dogs were on the property, and visitors had to be searched before access was granted. [7]

Attack

Shortly before the attack, Abram visited a local church and asked "where the squire was", referring to Harrison. The vicar did not know who he meant initially. [8]

At around 3:30 am on 30 December, Abram infiltrated Harrison's estate by scaling the walls and bypassing private security. [9] Harrison and his wife, Olivia, were woken by the sound of glass breaking. [10] Descending to the main hall, [11] they found Abram brandishing a knife six to seven inches (15–18 cm) long. [12] Harrison attempted to disarm Abram, [13] chanting the "Hare Krishna" mantra to distract his assailant. Harrison suffered repeated stab wounds to his upper body, one of which punctured a lung. The attack ended when Olivia threw a lamp at Abram, [8] incapacitating him until police could arrive and take him into custody. [11]

Harrison was rushed first to Royal Berkshire Hospital, then transferred to Harefield Hospital due to the extent of his injuries. In the hospital, Harrison received painkillers; [12] a surgeon stated that he was "lucky to be alive". [14] Harrison had received over 40 stab wounds, and his lung had to be removed. [15] One blow narrowly missed the superior vena cava, an injury that would have almost certainly resulted in death. [12] A spokesman for the Harrison estate reported his status as "stable but in pain". [6] Harrison was released within two weeks and was recuperating at home by the time of Abram's trial. [8]

Investigation

Euan Read, a chief inspector at Thames Valley Police, denied that the incident was an attempted burglary, suspecting that "the offender had come down here deliberately". [10] Harrison also did not regard it as a burglary. [12] Harrison released a public statement shortly afterwards, stating "Adi Shankara, an Indian historical, spiritual and groovy-type person, once said, 'Life is fragile like a raindrop on a lotus leaf.' And you'd better believe it." [16]

Aftermath

Abram's trial and subsequent events

Abram had suffered head injuries related to the attack, and was admitted to Royal Berkshire Hospital alongside Harrison. [17] He appeared in court the day after, having been bailed by Oxford magistrates. [18] During the trial, Abram requested to send a letter to the Harrison family. A statement was read out to the courtroom by Abram's lawyer, profusely apologising for the attack, and claiming that he was not aware he had schizophrenia. [19] The court was also told that Abram liked to listen to music while sitting on an upturned flower pot, and his mental health had begun to deteriorate following the 1999 solar eclipse. [8] Charged with attempted murder, Judge Justice Asill found Abram not guilty by insanity, though ordered indefinite confinement in a mental hospital. [20] Harrison's son, Dhani, spoke outside of Oxford Crown Court, stating that it was "tragic that someone could suffer such a mental breakdown". [14] Olivia was present at the court hearing, and stated: "There was blood on the walls and blood on the carpet. (...) This was the moment I realised that we were going to be murdered, and that this man was succeeding in murdering us, and there was nobody else there to help." [21] George himself had not attended the court hearing, but provided a statement, asserting that "there was a time during this violent struggle that I truly believed I was dying". Abram had apparently offered no reaction to Harrison's vivid account. [11]

Abram was discharged from a mental hospital in Rainhill in July 2002, eight months after Harrison's death, [4] [22] and placed into a hostel. Harrison's family reacted negatively to the early release, stating that they had not been informed of Abram's release beforehand, [23] and referring to it as "upsetting and insulting". For his part, Abram insisted that he was no longer a risk and was a normal person whilst on medication. [24]

The Liverpool Echo reported in 2005 that Abram had joined the local branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau. [25] According to Philip Norman's 2023 biography of Harrison, Abram "was reportedly training to become a volunteer adviser for the Citizens Advice Bureau". [26]

Harrison's health following the attack

Harrison's injuries from the Friar Park attack were more severe than was reported in the press and led to the removal of a portion of one of his lungs. [15] Within a year, the throat cancer that he had beaten in 1998 returned in the form of lung cancer. [27] Harrison died on 29 November 2001 at a property belonging to Paul McCartney in Beverly Hills, California, at age 58. [28] Having seen Harrison looking so healthy beforehand, those in his social circle believed that the attack irrevocably altered his health and caused the cancer's return. [15]

Keith Richards told Rolling Stone magazine, "I think he probably would have beaten the cancer if it wasn't for the blade [...] I mean, we know that he didn't die from [being stabbed], but I'm sure that it sort of broke down his resistance to what he had to deal with". [1]

Harrison's Travelling Wilburys bandmate Tom Petty told Rolling Stone, "[His death is] so much easier for me than if he had died that night in the attack. I don't think I could have dealt with that. I told him so. When I put on my TV the morning he was stabbed, it looked like he had died, there were so many biographical things coming up on the TV. After that, I told him, 'I already kind of went through your death.' And I said, 'Just do me a favor and don't die that way, because I just can't handle it.' He said he promised me he wasn't going out that way". [1]

Harrison's son Dhani said of the attack: "It definitely took years off of his life, you know. If you’re trying to fight cancer and then you’re trying to stay alive from something like that, it’s gotta take it out of you." [29]

Public reactions

McCartney issued a short statement after the attack, saying "Thank God that both George and Olivia are all right. I send them all my love." [30]

Ringo Starr, the Beatles' drummer, provided a similar statement wishing well for Harrison and his family, [30] and Beatles producer George Martin stated that he was "appalled" at the attack and opined about Harrison's recent reclusivity. [30]

According to Harrison's son Dhani, George himself had reacted sarcastically to the attack, stating that "he wasn't a burglar, and he certainly wasn't auditioning for the Traveling Wilburys." [13]

When asked if he was impressed at the defense of George made by Harrison's wife, Tom Petty said "When I heard about it, I sent George a fax, and it just said, 'Aren't you glad you married a Mexican girl?' Olivia really kicked ass." [1]

References

  1. ↑ The attack may have caused Harrison's cancer to return, which he died of in 2001.
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Remembering George". Rolling Stone .
  2. 1 2 "Paranoid loner 'failed by the system'". BBC News . 15 November 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 Morris, Steven (16 November 2000). "Schizophrenic knifeman whose illness was dismissed as side-effect of drug taking". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 Carter, Helen (5 July 2002). "George Harrison's attacker released from hospital". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Mead, Wendy (12 November 2021). "The Truth Of George Harrison's Stabbing". Grunge. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  6. 1 2 Tran, Mark (30 December 1999). "Beatle stabbed after break-in". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Neighbours tell of 'Fort Knox'". BBC News . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Harrison Attacker Ruled Insane". ABC News. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Wardle, Drew (25 May 2022). "The harrowing moment George Harrison was stabbed in the chest". Far Out Magazine. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Harrison attack 'deliberate'". BBC News . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 Morris, Steven (15 November 2000). "The night George Harrison thought he was dying". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Lyall, Sarah (31 December 1999). "George Harrison Stabbed in Chest by an Intruder". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  13. 1 2 Dunworth, Liberty (24 October 2023). "George Harrison's sarcastic reaction to being stabbed 40 times revealed in new biography". NME. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Beatle's attacker says sorry". BBC News . 16 November 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 Doggett, Peter (2009). You never give me your money: the Beatles after the breakup. New York: HarperCollins. pp. 328–329. ISBN   978-0-06-177446-1.
  16. ↑ Green, Joshua M. (2006). Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison. John Wiley and Sons. p. 266. ISBN   978-0-470-12780-3.
  17. ↑ "Reclusive Beatle not safe in his shell". Irish Independent. 3 January 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  18. ↑ "Man charged with attempted murder of George Harrison". RTÉ . 31 December 1999. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  19. ↑ "George Harrison Attacker Apologizes". ABC News . 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  20. ↑ Moyes, Jojo. "Harrison's attacker cleared of attempted murder after court decides he is insane". The Independent. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  21. ↑ "Covered in blood, George Harrison thought to himself: 'I truly believe". The Independent. 15 November 2000. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  22. ↑ "Man who stabbed George Harrison set free". Sydney Morning Herald . 5 July 2002. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  23. ↑ "Harrison's attacker to be freed". Oxford Mail . 8 July 2002. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  24. ↑ "Freed Beatle's attacker sorry". BBC News . 5 July 2002. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  25. ↑ "Citizens Advice Bureau job for man who stabbed George Harrison". Liverpool Echo. 12 September 2005. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  26. ↑ Nolasco, Stephanie (8 November 2023). "Beatle George Harrison was stabbed 40 times by intruder with 'homicidal mission' to 'do God's work': book". Fox News. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  27. ↑ Fine, Jason, ed. (2002). Harrison. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 49–50. ISBN   978-0-7432-3581-5.
  28. ↑ Fleming, E. J. (2015). Hollywood Death and Scandal Sites. McFarland. p. 125. ISBN   978-0786496440. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  29. ↑ "The harrowing moment George Harrison was stabbed in the chest". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  30. 1 2 3 "Sir Paul: Thank God they're OK". BBC News . Retrieved 23 January 2025.
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