By Jay Tavares
A doctor who was stabbed nine times in a random, unprovoked attack, expressed an extraordinary but illogical level of forgiveness against the stranger who stabbed him nine times
Dr Adam Towler, a former trauma specialist from Bristol who develops medical software, was stabbed repeatedly by then 17-year-old Chanz Maximen, including with a blow that missed his heart by two centimetres. An impact statement read to the court after a judge passed sentence on his deranged attacker saw Towler cut an image of a super saint who has a connection with the brutal assailant.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Exactly why a man would express such level of forgiveness against a man who could have ended his life is a wonder for analysts. Some people feel it could be a symptom of a low level mental health issue arising from the fear of reprisals following the imprisonment of Towler. Others feel it is an extraordinary display of empathy for a man Dr Taylor knows must have deep mental health issues despite having no record of such issues.
Mental health analyst Deon Vernhoven told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”it is quite extraordinary for a man to express that level of forgiveness and good will towards another who deliberately put his life at severe risk. Dr Towler’s attackers certainly had serious mental health issues, and there is a possibility the serious attack made Dr Towler see life from a fresh perspective after narrowly escaping death.
He may also have an understanding that Maximen is mentally ill and and be sympathetic to that Dr Towler may himself have developed mental health issues as a result of the attack and may .have developed a great fear of his attacker even when he is behind bars.However, it is very unusual to forgive a crazy man who nearly ended your life.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
Crazy Maximen knocked on Towler’s door and shone a light through his letterbox, misleading the doctor to conclude a prank was being played. When he opened the door, Maximen pulled him into the road and stabbed him.
Maximen, of Woodland Walk in Sea Mills, was convicted by jury of the attempted murder of Dr Towler, and possessing a knife, in October 2019. He was also convicted of the wounding with intent of warehouse worker Wojtek Rozmiarek in November 2019 as well as possessing two more knives.
Imprisoned: Chanz Maximen AVON AND SOMMERSET POLICE
As Maximen was jailed for life with a minimum term of 12 years on Wednesday, Dr Towler’s impact statement read at the sentencing hearing was phenomenally forgiving, but his reasoning bears no resemblance with logic. Judge William Hart described Towler’s statement as “extraordinary”, saying: “Whether it is the effect of intellect, or faith, or kindness and understanding, I don’t know
His statement read: “To begin, I want to say that I am not upset or angry with you,” “I don’t think you owe me an apology or anything, but I do want to you to know what it’s like for me.”
“If it is the consequence of intellect, I admire it. If it is the consequence of faith, I envy it.”
Expanding on the thoughts behind the statement on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday, Towler said: “The fact we’re here talking today, I got lucky. I’m living a quite normal life, a comfortable life. My immediate outlook is rather more comfortable than Chanz Maximen’s position.
“I guess also in some odd way I felt a sense of connection with him. He and I were two individuals connected in this event. I haven’t been able to speak to him …
“But I don’t feel angry with him. What happened, happened. Neither of us can unwind the clocks on those events so now I have the rest of my life before me and he does, too.”
Towler added: “No one knows what he thought, what he does think, no one knows whether he will be judged safe to return to society but his whole life turned on that event. Prior to this, there was no mental history, he was on a good course and that may be difficult for him. I know it’s certainly difficult to his family who have supported him with great tenacity and loyalty through the legal process.”
He said it would be “cool” if his approach helped others to think differently.
“If the approach stimulates a thought in some other people, perhaps gives them some tools to think differently about a difficult situation they’re experiencing, then that’s cool. I think in these situations, there’s no right, so go with it,” he said.
During the attack, Towler said Maximen had said “you killed the girl”, a phrase that he has never explained and that meant nothing to the victim or investigators.
Sentencing him for the stabbing and two more random attacks carried out in Bristol in the following weeks, the judge said: “There is no logical explanation for any of your offending other than that you are a highly dangerous young man with a wholly distorted view of life and appropriate conduct.”
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar