Ysgol Dyffryn Aman school attack: Girl told teacher ‘I’m going to kill you,’ trial hears
A teenager told a teacher “I’m going to f****** kill you” as she attacked her at a school in Wales, a trial has heard.
The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies the attempted murder of two teachers and a pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman School – also known as Amman Valley School – in Carmarthenshire, West Wales.
She has admitted wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article on school grounds, but faces trial on three counts of attempted murder.
A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in on Monday morning at Swansea Crown Court and was told by Judge Paul Thomas KC that a previous trial in the case had to be abandoned for “various reasons”.
The court heard there had been a “serious episode of violence” at the school during the mid-morning school break on 24 April last year.
Prosecuting, William Hughes KC, said teachers Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin were “seriously injured after being repeatedly stabbed”.
On a previous occasion, after a knife was found in the defendant’s possession, she was excluded from school “for a number of days”, and the school was given permission to carry out “daily bag checks”.
But on the morning of 24 April, the court heard how the defendant had “left the family home before her father could check her bag”.
(L-R) Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin. Pics: Dyfed-Powys Police
The jury was told that, prior to the incident, the defendant was in the lower school hall, but “did not have permission” to be there, and that when Mrs Elias told her this, the girl looked at her with “sinister eyes” and “appeared to be playing with something in the right-side pocket of her cargo trousers”.
Later that morning, in an outdoor area near the lower hall, the teenager pulled out what Mrs Elias described as “a penknife with a silver tip to it”, while she was speaking to both her and Mrs Hopkin.
The prosecution said the knife used in the attack turned out to be a “multi-tool” taken without permission from her father’s fishing equipment.
Mr Hughes told the jury: “Mrs Elias asked about her [the defendant’s] trousers which were not school uniform.
“There was an exchange between them about contacting her father, which she did not want.
“Mrs Elias then said she wasn’t happy with the way [the girl] was looking at her and asked what she had in her pocket.
“She said: ‘Do you want to see?’ and pulled out an item with a silver blade.
“On pulling out the knife, she said to Mrs Elias ‘I am going to kill you, I am going to f****** kill you’, and then she started to stab her.”
She also attacked Ms Hopkin, before rushing past two male teachers and running at the other pupil.
Both Mrs Elias and Mrs Hopkin, who attempted to restrain the defendant, “received significant and serious injuries”.
Mrs Hopkin was the most seriously injured of the two with “four stab wounds”, and she was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Mrs Elias and the pupil also attended hospital for treatment.
Ammanford in Carmarthenshire
Members of the jury were shown CCTV footage of the incident as the prosecution opened its case on Monday.
After her arrest, Mr Hughes said the defendant made “significant, unsolicited comments” in the back of the police vehicle on the way to the police station.
The comments were captured on body-worn camera footage.
Referring to the pupil, she said: “I stabbed her… oopsies”.
She then said: “I suppose things like this don’t happen often”, and later asked: ‘Are they dead?’
“I’m pretty sure this is going to be on the news, so more eyes will be looking at me, that’s one way to be a celebrity,” she added.
She later asked officers, “How am I going to face my family after what I’ve done?”
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After her arrest, police officers attended her home address where they found drawings with comments including “burning a person”, “they could die”, “cut their mouths and eyes” and “to death”.
Officers also found a drawing of what was described as “Mrs Frog Face Elias”.
The trial continues.
Immigration was the first thing on the government’s agenda to kick off the first week back from recess, and they wanted you to know it.
The home secretary gave an update to the House, announcing a shakeup of family reunion rules for asylum seekers, even before some backbenchers had made it back to parliament from their break.
Facing criticism for being on the back foot after a summer of protest outside asylum hotels, they were keen to defend their record and get back on track – but is it too late?
It’s a clear nod to the political void Reform UK has seized on while the prime minister has been on holiday.
Last week, Nigel Farage unveiled his party’s mass deportation policy – though the issue of women and children still seems to be worked out.
But perhaps none of that matters as voters overwhelmingly believe Reform cares about this issue – and as Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, pointed out on Monday, voters have lost confidence in the government somewhat to solve what many see as an immigration crisis on their doorstep.
So it’s clear the strategy has changed from the government.
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‘Substantial reforms are needed now’
Gone are the bold slogans of “smashing the gangs” and instead, detail and policy was given on Monday. It was nothing new, but more substance on what the government has done and where they want to move to. Even controversially, reassessing their relationship with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The biggest update though, was on their one-in-one-out policy agreement with France, which will now set to start returns later this month.
It’s finally hit home for the government that the public want proof not just rhetoric, and they want to know crucially when they will start to see change.
But the fightback, the reset, whatever the government wants to call it, will only make a difference once that finally starts to work.
Police are asking for help with an unsolved case, 52 years after the murder of a schoolboy in Belfast.
Brian McDermott was 10 when he disappeared from Ormeau Park on Sunday 2 September 1973. His remains were recovered from the River Lagan almost a week later.
Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Legacy Investigation Branch have given a timeline of events as part of their appeal.
Brian left his home on Well Street in the lower Woodstock Road area of east Belfast at around 12.30pm and failed to return for his Sunday dinner.
Detectives said he was last seen playing alone in the playground between 1pm and 3pm that afternoon.
His remains were recovered in the water, close to the Belfast Boat Club.
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River Lagan, where the remains of schoolboy Brian McDermott were recovered. Pic: PSNI handout/PA
A PSNI spokesperson said: “We are acutely aware of the pain and suffering that Brian’s family continue to feel, and our thoughts very much remain with the family at this time.
“Despite the passage of time, this murder case has never been closed and I am hopeful that someone may be able to provide information, no matter how small, which may open a new line of inquiry, or add a new dimension to information already available.
“It is also possible that someone who did not volunteer information at the time may be willing to speak with police now. Legacy Investigation Branch Detectives will consider all investigative opportunities as part of the review into Brian’s murder.”
The transfer window was a show of strength in a record-breaking summer across the Premier League.
The totaliser crept over £3bn in spending, with more than half of it flowing among the 20 clubs rather than having a redistributing effect across Europe.
The start of new Premier League TV deals – the biggest individual source of income being from Sky News’ parent company Comcast – provides certainty for the next four years, while rival leagues can struggle to sell rights.
And the feared threat from Saudi Arabia has not materialised. It is an attractive and lucrative destination for some players, but not yet the ultimate destination.
But the kingdom has still influenced this transfer window.
Alexander Isak has joined Liverpool. Pic: Reuters
Let’s start with Newcastle, four years into their ownership by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
Having secured a return to the Champions League, bringing UEFA riches, this was the summer to grow rather than lose talent to rivals.
But the Premier League’s pecking order became clear when Alexander Isak pushed for a move to Liverpool and rejected bids that did not deter his ambitions.
Player power won out.
The 25-year-old striker was able to withdraw himself from the squad, miss the opening three matches of the season, and put out a statement claiming promises had been broken by the Magpies.
Read more: Isak completes £125m Liverpool move
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Will Liverpool’s spend equal success?
Liverpool ‘loading up on talent’
And so he held on until deadline day, biding his time, sitting it out, and standing firm. Newcastle folded, accepting £125m – £20m lower than their apparent valuation.
Breaking the British record fee was Liverpool’s American ownership flexing financial muscle like never before.
The Premier League champions allowed manager Arne Slot to build from a position of strength.
This was the second time they broke the record in this window after bringing in another forward, Florian Wirtz, in a £116m deal.
More than £400m in reinforcements arrived at Anfield in a matter of weeks.
Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told Sky Sports: “Liverpool are making hay while the sun shines, going for it. Really loading up on talent.
“Other clubs should be fearful and respectful of the way [Fenway Sports Group] are running their club.”
Eberechi Eze (centre right), who left Palace for Arsenal this summer, celebrates winning the FA Cup final. Pic: PA
The Isak deal weakened their Champions League rivals from the North East after banking £57m from another club owned by the Public Investment Fund when Darwin Nunez was offloaded to Saudi.
And PIF funded Chelsea’s summer spending spree in less obvious ways.
The Blues did negotiate a £44m package with PIF-backed Al Nassr deal for Joao Felix, recouping the fee paid just a year earlier.
But then there was the £90m prize money collected for winning the new FIFA Club World Cup – a competition bankrolled by PIF subsidiaries.
Where does this leave Newcastle? Still spending around £250m.
Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen. Pic: AP
Players and Liverpool couldn’t get all their way this summer, with Marc Guehi forced to stay at Crystal Palace after the FA Cup winners failed to secure a replacement for the England centre-back.
The late drama was just the latest of the summer transfer window’s twists and turns.
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Both Arsenal and Manchester United also spent more than £200m each. The Gunners spent big in pursuit of a title that’s eluded them since 2004, while the Red Devils are just trying to get back into the Champions League.
It added up to a new record total outlay that comfortably eclipsed the previous Premier League record of £2.46bn from 2023.
The £3bn is more than the rest of Europe combined, showing both where the power is in world football and why the Premier League is the one the world wants to watch.
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