Hari Scruffs - Henley Heroics

Daily Summary

The following is a summary of each day's events as they were reported, starting with the day George and Olivia were attacked until January 3, 2000. For developments from January 4th on, please refer to the Chronicle.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30 1999

Awakened by shattering glass around 3am, George and Olivia Harrison were attacked by an intruder. George and Olivia valiantly fought the intruder, Michael Abram. Brave Olivia bashed Abram over the head with a bedside lamp. (Go Olivia!!!) Together, they were able to detain Abram until police arrived at 3:30am after being called by a staff member. Abram was hospitalized with head injuries at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. He was released into police custody and is being questioned by the Thames Valley Police on suspicion of attempted murder.

George and Olivia were sent to Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, where George was admitted around 5:45am.

George suffered a single, 1-inch stab wound to the chest with a 7-inch knife. He was fitted with a drain to remove excess fluid and air from a partially collapsed right lung. No major organs were involved. Before 3pm, George was transferred to Harefield Hospital in west London which has a special chest unit.

Olivia remains by his side.

His sense of humor unimpaired, George said of the intruder, "He wasn't a burglar and he certainly wasn't auditioning for the Traveling Wilburys. We would like to thank everyone for their concern."

George is in stable condition, and is expected to return home after a few days of observation.

Olivia was hit over the head but her bruises were not serious enough to warrant admission to the hospital; she remains by George's side.

Dhani was in the house at the time of the attack, but was unharmed.

Paul, Ringo and Sir George Martin have made public statements:

SIR PAUL: "Thank God that both George and Olivia are all right. I send them all my love. I have no further comment to make."

RINGO: "Both Barbara and I are deeply shocked that this incident has occurred. We send George and Olivia all our love and wish George a speedy recovery."

SIR GEORGE: "George leads a very quiet life. .... He's very down to earth. He likes nothing more than doing his garden. .... George is a very peaceful person who hates violence of any kind."

Yoko was also notified.

Michael Abram is a 33-year-old Huyton, Liverpool resident and father of two: Vicky, 16, and Michael, 10. The unemployed ex-heroin addict is known locally as Mad Mick. Abram is a former psychiatric patient who, over the past two weeks, had become obsessed with the Beatles. He hates them and believes them to be witches.

Michael Abram's mother, Lydia, 52, says this of her son's mental health problems: "He takes all music literally -- it is the Beatles at the moment but a few weeks ago it was Oasis. He has been running in pubs shouting about the Beatles. He hates them and even believes they are witches and takes their lyrics seriously. He started to wear a Walkman to play music to stop the voices in his head. I could not believe what he had done because he has never been violent. He shouts and likes to shock but has never been violent." She added, "He hears voices in his head and sees things coming out of the walls." Mrs. Abram also said, "He has been off drugs completely since May. He is on absolutely nothing and if you ask me that is when you need the help. He was on heroin. Now he is not on methadone. He does not even smoke pot. I was told he has got drugs psychosis. He was told if he stops taking the drugs the psychosis will go."

Two teams of forensic experts are examining the scene of the attack, and a police guard has been posted outside George and Olivia's 120-room mansion, Friar Park, in Henley-on-Thames. Friar Park's high-tech, up-to-date security is so intense, it has been referred to as Fort Knox. A dark blue holdall believed to belong to the man was discovered hidden behind wooden fencing panels and thick foliage in the garden of a house directly opposite the main entrance to Friar Park. (A holdall is an all-purpose bag used often used by travelers and homicidal maniacs.) Detective Chief Inspector Euan Read, the officer leading the investigation, said: "We are doing a painstaking forensic examination of the house at the moment to put in place details of where blood is and so on to try to piece together a picture of precisely what happened."

Meanwhile, Merseyside police searched Abram's flat and left with an evidence bag.

The only civilian vehicle allowed into Friar Park was a delivery van. "It's champagne and that kind of stuff," said the driver explaining that the Harrisons had planned a Millennium Eve party.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 1999

Tests and X-rays to be performed tomorrow will determine if George is well enough to be discharged. He may be home as early as Sunday (Jan 2). A full recovery is expected in 3 weeks, with a small scar being the only physical reminder of this nightmare.

George joked, "I can see the headlines already -- George has had a hard day's night."

Olivia and Dhani were by George's bedside.

Yoko said that she was distressed about the violence, and stated, "My heart goes out to George, Olivia and Dhani, and I hope he will recover quickly."

Overnight, Michael Abram was formally charged with attempted murder of George and Olivia. He appeared before Oxford magistrates court early this morning. Flanked by 3 policemen, Abram spoke only to confirm his name and address during the 45-minute hearing.

Abram was bailed by magistrates and sent to Scott Clinic in Merseyside, a medium secure forensic psychiatric unit, where he will remain for psychiatric assessment.

The case was adjourned to February 11, 2000.

Questions remain as to how Abram penetrated the high-tech security system at Friar Park, known locally as Fort Knox. George had not renewed his contract with Vanguard Location Security which provides bodyguards and dogs. Caves and other landscaping features make Friar Park a security risk. The main gates have no razor wire on top, and it's believed Abram simply climbed over them.

Four detectives searched Abram's bare, unfurnished apartment in Huyton, and left with four bags of material. When they broke in, Abram's radio was playing John's "Jealous Guy."

Additional disturbing details were revealed about Michael Abram. He has been diagnosed with paranoid psychosis. Regarded as a danger to himself, he'd spent 2 weeks in the psychiatric ward in Whiston Hospital in Merseyside, but was sent home after assaulting a nurse.

Locally called Mad Mick, Abram was known as a "nutter" and an exhibitionist. He'd been a heroin addict for 15 years, and had been taking methadone until 6 or 7 months ago. Abram would walk for hours, severely blistering his feet, wearing a Walkman and screaming pop lyrics at the top of his lungs. He often stood on his 10th-floor balcony, sometimes naked, screaming and throwing empty beer cans at children. At least once, he threatened to jump from the balcony, only to be encouraged by passers-by.

Abram's ex-girfriend and mother of their 2 children is Jeanette, age 33 (her last name has been given variously as Jennings, Freeman and Blackburn). Jeanette said that on Christmas Eve, Abram boasted, "I am going to be famous one day soon, Jeanette, just you wait and see." She said Abram was a religious fanatic, and "totally obsessed by the Beatles. He thought John Lennon was a prophet and Paul McCartney was the Devil." She added, "He identified with George Harrison because of the song 'My Sweet Lord.' He had the song on a tape of Beatles tracks which he played over and over again on his personal stereo."

Lynda Abram said her son talked more about Paul than George.

A detailed account is known about what happened during the approximately 10-minute attack early Thursday morning. Asleep in their upstairs bedroom, George and Olivia were awakened by the sound of breaking glass. While Olivia alerted staff on an intercom, George went downstairs to investigate. Finding an intruder in a ground floor room, George called out and was lunged at by the man. Apparently some words were exchanged, making it possible for George to identify the man's Liverpool accent. During the scuffle, George tackled his attacker, was stabbed in the chest and slumped to the floor.

Upon hearing George's screams for help, Olivia ran downstairs, and Dhani emerged. Seeing Olivia on the landing, Abram stepped over George's body and moved toward her. Olivia picked up a table lamp with a heavy brass base, yelled at Abram, and smashed the lamp across the side of his head, stunning him. Abram staggered up to the landing where he collapsed.

During this struggle, Olivia was cut on her forehead and hands.

In the meantime, a staff member had called the police who, upon their arrival, found George lying on the floor, holding a towel to his chest, Olivia kneeling beside him trying to comfort him.

Abram gave himself up, handing over the knife without resistance.

The 10-minute altercation left blood splattered in 3 rooms.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1 2000

George had a quiet night and is said to be "progressing well in his recovery."

Olivia shared George's private double room, and the couple dined on homemade food and fruit brought by their housekeeper. George wished the staff and patients at Harefield Hospital a happy New Year.

Though X-rays looked good, doctors say George is not yet well enough to leave Harefield until early next week. He still has a drain in his right lung, and is still drowsy from painkillers.

George will have another chest X-ray today and is expected to return home early next week.

Meanwhile, Michael Abram was caught by security cameras in Liverpool 10:25am Wednesday -- 17 hours before attacking George and Olivia. He was wearing the same clothes he wore at the time of the attack, and carried the same bag found across from Friar Park after his arrest. Acquaintances of Abram couldn't figure out how he made the 200 mile trip to Henley without a car.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2 2000

It was revealed today that, after being examined by a chest specialist, George had been discharged from Harefield Hospital Saturday evening, January 1. George and Olivia expressed their thanks to the hospital staff, and to everyone who have sent kind thoughts and wishes since their ordeal.

Though he left Harefield Saturday evening, George asked the staff not to release the news until today.

On a somber note, the Thames Valley Police have warned Paul and Ringo to be on the alert against copycat attacks.

MONDAY, JANUARY 3 2000

It was revealed only today that George suffered cuts to his left hand when he tried to take the knife away from Abram during the attack last Thursday. Stitches were needed on his thumb and fingers. George has been reassured that he will regain full use of his hand.

George wanted to recuperate in his home in Maui, but cancelled those plans when he found out about the arrest of stalker Cristin Keleher who had broken into his Maui home.

Security has been increased at all of George's homes. Uniformed security guards and dogs now patrol the fence of Friar Park.