A 13-year-old girl accused of murdering a woman in a planned attack inflicted more than 140 wounds on her victim, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court has heard.
A Brutal Attack in Wellingborough
The court was told that the body of Marta Bednarczyk, 43, was discovered burnt in a fire at a terraced property in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in March. Fire crews pulled her remains from a smoke-filled living room, but a Home Office pathologist later determined she was likely already dead from the stab wounds before the fire started.
The prosecutor, Samuel Skinner KC, outlined the horrific details of the attack. The victim sustained at least 143 sharp force injuries, with 65 located in her head and neck. Seven wounds were to the front of her torso, 33 to her back, and 28 across her arms, hands, and wrists.
"One of the injuries entered the victim's brain while two others entered her lungs," Mr Skinner told the court. He emphasised the severity of the force used, stating the pathologist concluded that the blow which penetrated the skull required "severe" power.
Claims of Premeditation and Lies
The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, citing the teenager's online activities in the weeks leading up to the event. The girl reportedly researched the potential sentence for a 13-year-old convicted of murder.
Furthermore, she allegedly sent messages to friends saying she "probably wouldn't be in school for a while" and, according to the prosecution, had "plainly thought she was getting away with murder." The court heard that the defendant initially claimed a third party was responsible for the attack.
Mr Skinner argued that her behaviour after the incident, including being seen smiling by a police officer and a nurse in hospital, did not suggest she was "confused or responding to voices telling her what to do."
The Defence of Diminished Responsibility
While the defendant admits to unlawfully killing Ms Bednarczyk, she has pleaded not guilty to murder. Her defence rests on the claim of diminished responsibility, which, if accepted by the jury, would result in a manslaughter conviction instead.
The prosecution, however, firmly rejects this claim. "We say that we will make you sure that this is a case of murder because she intended to do really serious harm," Mr Skinner told the jurors.
He pointed to the evidence of premeditation, the defendant's subsequent lies, and the opinions of respected medical professionals who stated her actions were not caused by poor mental health.
"Why do I say this?" Mr Skinner asked. "Because of the evidence of her premeditation... and because of the evidence of her lies, and because of the evidence of respected and experienced medical professionals who say she did not have an abnormality of mental functioning."
The prosecutor concluded that the defendant's age does not "explain or excuse murder," and noted that Ms Bednarczyk was not armed. The trial continues.
