Court Hears Details of Attack on Schoolgirl; Defendant Denies Attempted Murder
A court has heard that a masked 15-year-old who stabbed a schoolgirl had written notes expressing hatred for women. The defendant, now 16, admitted to possessing a kitchen knife without authority and wounding with intent, while denying the charge of attempted murder.
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Based on reporting by BBC UK:
According to the source, a court heard that a masked 15-year-old who was captured on CCTV stabbing a schoolgirl at 10:24 GMT on March 11 had written notes indicating a hatred for women. The defendant, who is now 16 and cannot be named for legal reasons, has admitted to possessing a kitchen knife without lawful authority and wounding with intent, but has denied the charge of attempted murder.
Prosecutors informed King's Lynn Crown Court that the boy brought a knife to school, was dressed in black with a face mask, and possessed an "intention to kill." Police were called to Thorpe St Andrew School near Norwich on March 11 following reports that a 15-year-old girl had been stabbed in the back.
Chris Paxton KC, opening the prosecution's case, stated that the defendant armed himself with a kitchen knife and went to school with the intent to kill. Jurors heard that he was "dressed in black, masked up and tooled up." CCTV footage presented to the court showed the moment the girl was stabbed in the back before the attacker fled while being "pursued by a teacher."
The girl received treatment in the hospital for minor injuries and was subsequently discharged. The alleged attacker's motive was reportedly documented in his notes as "misanthropy, misogyny, suicide, bullying." His notes further contained the statements, "Death = 2+ hopefully, injuries a lot hopefully."
The prosecution characterized the outcome as "sheer good fortune" that the girl was not seriously injured, noting that she had been "defenceless and vulnerable." Paxton added that the prosecution maintained the knife strike was an attempt to kill.
It was alleged that a search of the defendant's residence uncovered evidence of his "obsessive and dangerous interest in killers and killing." Jurors also heard notes found by police stating, "I really want to do it really bad," and adding, "I need a plan." Paxton stated that additional notes, including one titled "victims list," demonstrated a hatred for women. The trial is anticipated to continue for three weeks.
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