A teenage boy who stabbed his teacher in the head at a school in Pembrokeshire has been found not guilty of attempting to murder her. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was instead found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent by a majority verdict of eleven-to-one at Swansea Crown Court.
Details of the Incident
The attack occurred on February 5 this year at Milford Haven School, where history teacher Vicki Williams sustained wounds to her head, hands, and back. The defendant, aged 15 at the time, approached Mrs. Williams in a classroom at the end of the school day. He had carried a large kitchen knife in his rucksack throughout the day, according to evidence presented during the trial.
The pupil denied attempted murder, claiming he brought the knife to school to “show off” to friends. He said the teacher was injured accidentally during a struggle when he refused to hand over the weapon after being told to do so.
Jury Deliberation and Verdict
After deliberating for four hours and three minutes, the jury found the teenager not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of the lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. The boy was remanded into custody while pre-sentence reports are prepared. Judge Paul Thomas KC stated that the reports would go “only to length” of the inevitable custodial sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for September 3.
Court Testimony
The trial heard that during the attack, Mrs. Williams screamed “blue murder” and thought she was going to die, believing she had seen her daughter for the last time. The defendant fled the school after dropping the knife and rucksack and was arrested at his grandmother’s house shortly afterward.
