A young female accused of the attempted murder of two educators and a student brought a knife to school “daily” due to feeling “anxious” and “frightened”, a hearing has revealed.
She is said to have attempted to stab teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, along with a student at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman – commonly referred to as Amman Valley School – located in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, on the 24th of April last year.
During the fifth day of the trial, the accused asserted that the incident was “truly out of character” and “doesn’t appear to be something I would do”.
(L-R) Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin. Pics: Dyfed-Powys Police
The panel, consisting of seven men and five women, has been informed that the schoolgirl has admitted to three charges of wounding with intent and possessing a sharp weapon on school grounds, but she refutes attempted murder.
The accused, who cannot be identified due to legal provisions, testified from the witness stand while dressed in a white shirt and a black sweater.
Swansea Crown Court was informed that the young girl faced bullying “three or four times weekly”.
‘Mrs Frogface Elias’
She stated to the court that this drawing served as a means of “expressing [herself]” and that she maintained “most of it private”.
Pic: PA
The court was informed that the girl did not have any prior acquaintance with Mrs Hopkin before the incident.
She further mentioned that she had a dislike for the child, whose identity is withheld due to her age, but added that she never intended to harm her.
Following the incident, the defendant recalls stating to her – “It’s your fault” – yet she also conveyed to the jury that she recognized it was not the child’s fault.
‘A bit jumpy’
The adolescent expressed that reflecting on the attack renders her “a bit jumpy”.
“I attempt to push it out of my mind, but at times it resurfaces in various forms,” she disclosed.
She noted that she did not “recollect much” from the event, relying chiefly on what she observed through CCTV footage.
“I recall fragments but nothing that could clarify any of these queries,” she mentioned.
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After the event, she was led to an office, where she remarked she was “still fairly shaken, but I recall hearing the code red announcement on the intercom.”
The trial is ongoing.
