Man who attacked work colleagues at Central Middlesex Hospital found guilty of attempted murder

Image above: Matteo Bottarelli. Image: Metropolitan Police

Matteo Bottarelli attacked colleagues with axe in June last year

A maintenance worker who attacked three of his colleagues has been found guilty of two counts of attempted murder and one of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent. Matteo Bottarelli was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court. He worked at Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal and on the 21 June last year he attacked Trevor MacGuire, Gideon Tesfay and Mark Quigley.

Bottarelli left Trevor MacGuire with a serious brain injury as well as stabbing Gideon Tesfay in the neck from behind with a scalpel, and attempting to injure a third man, Mark Quigley.

Appearing at the Old Bailey, Bottarelli pleaded guilty to the lesser offences of wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm, but they were not accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

He will be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on 30 April.

A police statement said:

“Shortly after 13.18hrs on 21 June 2023, police were called to Central Middlesex Hospital to reports that two people had been stabbed. Officers attended, and found two men, aged in their 40s, both suffering from significant injuries. Thankfully, although substantial, their injuries were not life threatening.

“Enquiries established that moments before the attack Bottarelli had approached one of his colleagues at the hospital saying 1today is your lucky day’. He then attempted to attack a male member of staff, before attacking two more male staff members with a pickaxe and a scalpel.

“An urgent search was conducted and armed officers found Bottarelli at his home. He was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment to self-inflicted injuries. He was later taken into custody and was charged with multiple offences.”

At Bottarelli’s in Central Way, Brent police recovered the mattock, a number of knives and scalpels.

Image above: Trevor MacGuire

Victim left with serious brain injury

Trevor MacGuire, 61, was one of three victims attacked by Matteo Bottarelli. He has a lifelong brain injury as a result of head injuries caused by the attack.

In a statement he said:

“There are many things that I cannot do as a result of the injuries caused by this attack. So many things have been taken away from me and my family, but I try not to dwell on them too much. To get on with my life, I have to get on with the disabilities, and all I want to do now is try to put this to one side. I would like to thank the Metropolitan Police for their support throughout this ordeal.”

Image above: Trevor and Dawn MacGuire

“Trauma will effect our family forever”

Trevor’s wife, Dawn MacGuire said:

“This whole experience has been horrific, made worse by Mr Bottarelli’s refusal to plead guilty to attempted murder. The injuries that my husband has to live with and the trauma that this has caused will affect our family forever.”

Trevor and his family were supported by Moore Barlow, personal injury lawyers. One of their lawyers, Matthew Claxson said:

“This is a tragic incident which has affected the entire MacGuire family; the physical and emotional damage caused by Mr Bottarelli is irreparable. But the outcome of today’s hearing is an indication for the family that the end of the criminal process is in sight, and the next Hearing at Wood Green Crown Court will deal with the sentencing of Mr Bottarelli.”