After his arrest, the Nigerian said he had wanted to kill his victim.
A 26-year-old French woman named Lola was violently attacked by a Nigerian migrant in a park in Toulouse on Jan. 2, with news reports now indicating that she was saved from imminent rape and murder by a homeless man who was regularly seen in the park.
The 58-year-old hero stopped the attack in the middle of the day, just before 2:00 p.m., while the young woman was out jogging.
Police say the Nigerian man flashed a knife at Lola, at which point he ordered her to remove her leggings. Instead of complying, Lola fought back and screamed for help. The Nigerian responded by punching her several times in the face and then began to try and strangle her. While he was choking her out, the courageous 58-year-old homeless man dived against the attacker, sending him fleeing the scene. Not only did the homeless man save Lola, but he had the presence of mind to take photographs of the Nigerian before he fled.