Connolly Mellon on trial over stabbing at Brighton hospital

Connolly Mellon went up to the 11th floor of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton attempting to reach the helipad.

He spoke with George Joseph who was there to take patients’ orders for food on the gynaecology and orthopaedics wards.

After being asked to show ID, Mellon claimed he was a member of the hospital security team.

Mr Joseph had walked away after informing nurses about his concerns, but he was stabbed from behind.

The hospital was put into lockdown and Mr Joseph was treated for wounds including a stab wound to the neck, Lewes Crown Court heard.

After fleeing the hospital, police found Mellon in Wilson Avenue, Brighton, and bodyworn footage showed him claiming he had not acted alone, but was working with the SAS special forces unit as part of a “selection process”.

He claimed he had been “ordered to kill” Mr Joseph via telepathy.

Mellon, 30, formerly of Waterloo Street, Hove, is on trial for attempted murder and possession of a knife in public.

Connolly Mellon is accused of attempting to murder George Joseph at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton

Rowan Jenkins, prosecuting, said the incident unfolded at the hospital in Eastern Road on July 19 last year.

A major incident was declared and the hospital went into lockdown as armed officers searched for Mellon.

Mr Jenkins said that Mellon had woken his father Frank, a mental health nurse, asking for his medication at 4am that morning.

The pair had “scuffled”, which had never happened before, and Mellon then stormed out of the house.

Mellon got to the hospital and went up to the 11th floor, where Mr Joseph asked for his identification.

Mellon walked away from Mr Joseph and entered the opposite ward.

But he saw Mr Joseph as he left the other ward.

Mr Jenkins said: “Out of the blue Mr Joseph found himself being attacked from behind.

“It was all very quick, he remembers seeing a knife in Connolly Mellon’s hand striking down onto him.

“It was fast moving and it was clearly an attack. Mr Joseph thought he was going to be killed.

“He was able to get into a ward where he was shocked and bleeding.”

Connolly Mellon is accused of attempting to murder George Joseph at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton

Mr Jenkins told the jury part of the attack is caught on CCTV and Mr Joseph’s injuries were “clearly consistent” with knife stab wounds.

The prosecutor added: “Bodyworn camera footage from the arrest shows Connolly Mellon telling them that he was working for the SAS and been involved in a selection process. He had gone to do what he was told to do.

“He said he had been ordered to kill that man (Mr Joseph) by the SAS telepathically.”

This was the moment Connolly Mellon was arrested in Wilson Avenue

Mr Jenkins said it is an “unusual case” and said Mellon claims he was insane as the attack was carried out.

He told the jury there would be no dispute it was Mellon who carried out the attack.

“It’s not going to be argued that he was there and did the acts, the real reason you are here is to consider the question of his intentions and his mental state of mind at the time he went and did these acts,” he said.

Alan Kent QC represents Mellon, and Her Honour Judge Christine Laing QC told jurors the case is expected to last for two or three days.

Mellon denies attempted murder. The trial continues.