UK
Ysgol Dyffryn Aman: Girl accused of attempted murders at school carried a knife since ‘Year 3 or 4’, trial hears
A teenager accused of the attempted murder of two teachers and a pupil says she had carried a knife to school since she was in “Year 3 or 4”.
Teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin and a pupil were injured after being stabbed at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire on 24 April.
The jury has been told the girl has previously pleaded guilty to three counts of wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article on a school premises, but she denies attempted murder.
The teenage defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she “used to harm [herself] and bring a knife to school”.
Asked how old she was when she started bringing a knife to school, she said: “I don’t remember how old I was, but I remember being in Year 3 or 4.”
The teenager said she “wasn’t very fond” of Fiona Elias and did not “usually” get on with her.
Ammanford in Carmarthenshire
Giving evidence in front of the jury on Monday, she said she would behave in a “very cheeky, irresponsible” way toward Mrs Elias.
Asked about a drawing she had made referring to “Mrs Frog Face Elias”, the teenager said it was “a nickname everyone around school knew her as”.
“I would say stuff like I’d want to punch her and slap her,” she said.
“I wish she was never here. I wish she was hurt.”
But she said she never intended to kill Mrs Elias, adding: “I’d never wish anyone to be dead.
“I would say it was more of showing off in front of my friends more than anything.”
The teachers and pupil were injured at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire in April. Pic: PA
In September 2023, the defendant was suspended from school after bringing a “kitchen knife”, used for “cutting vegetables”, with her.
“I completely forgot it was in my bag,” she said.
She said she had it as she was “going to calve [her] name in a tree” over the summer holidays.
Mrs Elias found the knife in her bag and, after her suspension, her dad “started checking [her] bag daily” for knives.
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She said she would put the fishing multi-tool “in [her] pocket”.
Asked if her father searched her for any knives, she added: “I believe he trusted me enough not to.”
The trial continues.
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