Ernie Meads was killed beside this busy road in Edmonton

This is how the events unfolded on 23 December 2004.

Ismail Dogan took his mother's car keys and a knife and left his home in Tottenham, north London. He drove his mother's red Hyundai Lantra car to nearby Edmonton.

Dogan attacked 29-year-old David Symes three times as he walked to Edmonton Green station to catch a train to work. Mr Symes, who was stabbed in the back and arm, lost four pints of blood but survived after undergoing an emergency operation. After the attack, Dogan threw away or lost the knife.

Dogan walked into a hardware shop in Tottenham High Road and bought a boning knife, paying in cash. The shopkeeper described him as "polite and articulate".

Roger Levy, a 49-year-old dentist, was stabbed five times in Gladstone Avenue, Wood Green. Mr Levy suffered a serious wound to the abdomen. He had "recurrent nightmares" after the attack, and was discharged from hospital in January 2005.

Cyclist Vicki Cann was stabbed in the chest as she rode her bike along Compton Crescent in Tottenham. Miss Cann, a campaign policy officer, said Dogan stopped his car in front of her and went towards her. Speaking from behind a screen, she told the court: "I don't remember seeing a knife but I immediately felt a pain in my chest. There was a cut in my clothing. It was very quick." She was transferred to the London Heart Hospital where surgeons operated and saved her life.

Pensioner Raymond Day was attacked in Empire Parade, Edmonton. Initially Mr Day, 76, thought he had been punched in the chest and continued on with his daily routine. He went to a supermarket and bought some groceries before a shop assistant noticed he was bleeding. He was taken to hospital and operated on. A surgeon described his injury as "life-threatening".

Dogan drove to Ecclesbourne Gardens in Palmers Green, got out of his car and stabbed 50-year-old Jeffrey Arthur in the side. PC Kalpna Shah, an off-duty police officer, witnessed the attack. She said Dogan's face was "contorted and angry". PC Shah said: "He stepped towards me and I thought he was going to stab me. He got about two feet away and I put my left hand up and said 'Whoa!'. He turned around and got in his car and drove off."

Dogan stopped his car in Meridian Way, Edmonton, got out and walked up behind Ernie Meads, 58, who had just been dropped off by his wife Christine. Dogan stabbed Mr Meads, who fell to the ground. Dogan climbed on top of him and stabbed him repeatedly before driving off. Mr Meads managed to stagger into the reception area of a nearby business. An ambulance arrived and took him to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone but he died in the accident and emergency department. A surgeon said: "It's 100% clear to me that this patient had no chance to survive considering his wounds."

Dogan drove back to his home in Tottenham. Several police officers were waiting for him, having traced his car to the address using the police national computer. He resisted arrest but they overpowered him and placed two sets of handcuffs on him. The boning knife was recovered from the front passenger seat.