Girl said ‘a way to become a celebrity’ – court
A teenager who stabbed two teachers and a pupil told police officers the attack was “a way of being a celebrity” because all eyes would be on him, a court has heard.
The girl, who cannot be named, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday charged with three counts of murder at Wysegol Dyffryn Aman, Carmarthenshire, in April last year.
He admitted to the triple stabbing of Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil at morning break at their school, but denied attempted murder.
The jury also heard that the teenager shouted that she was “going to kill” people at the school.
The teenager repeatedly said “I’m going to kill you” as he first stabbed assistant head Ms Elias, and again when he attacked a pupil, the court heard.
School teacher Ms. Hopkin tried to intervene to help Ms. Elias, but she was stabbed in the neck, back, legs and arm.
Two other teachers, Ms Elias and Ms Hopkin, tried to calm the girl after she was stabbed, but she “passed them”, and went on to stab a fellow pupil several times.
Prosecuting barrister William Hughes Casey described it as a “stand-off”, where the teenager walked to another part of the school, and attacked the pupil, saying he was going to kill them.
The teenager is said to have initially approached Ms Hopkin and Ms Elias, saying she wanted to go down the hall after being asked to leave by Ms Elias.
The assistant head recalled seeing the girl with “horrified eyes” and playing with something in her pocket, Mr Hughes said.
When Ms Elias asked her what was in her pocket, the girl pulled out a blade, which belonged to her father and was kept in his fishing equipment, the jury heard.
The school in Ammanford was put into lockdown as Dyfed-Polish police investigated. Pupils and teachers remained in the classrooms for four hours, while the girl was kept in a classroom until police arrived.
On their way to the police station, Mr Hughes said the teenager told an officer: “I’m pretty sure this is going to be on the news so more eyes can see me. That’s one way to be a celebrity.”
Police officers found pictures belonging to the mannequin she had stabbed at the teenager’s home, along with a sconce with the words “Mrs. Frogface Elias” and others written about “burning, drowning and death.”
The court also heard that a knife was found in the teenager’s backpack by Ms Elias earlier in the school year.
Judge Paul Thomas Casey told a jury on Monday that the first trial in the case at Swansea Crown Court had been abandoned.
Testing is ongoing.
