A 13-year-old girl standing trial for murder has told a jury she was hearing voices in her head that instructed her to hurt people in the months leading up to the killing.
Court Hears of Gruesome Online Searches
The defendant, who cannot be named due to her age, is accused of murdering 43-year-old Marta Bednarczyk at a property in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. While giving evidence at Lincoln Crown Court, the teenager accepted she unlawfully killed the victim but has pleaded not guilty to murder, claiming diminished responsibility.
The court heard that Ms Bednarczyk suffered more than 140 knife wounds. The girl told jurors that in the run-up to the alleged murder on 10 March this year, she conducted several online searches out of "pure curiosity". These included Googling "What happens when a 13-year-old murders?" and viewing a website showing executions.
Defence Claims Diminished Responsibility
Under questioning from her defence barrister, Mary Prior KC, the teenager explained her state of mind. She said she had searched "How do I know if I have got a mental illness?" because she relied on Google for answers, having few friends. "I was hearing voices in my head," she told the court. "I felt like I just had an issue with myself."
Less than a week before the killing, the girl sent herself a message saying she no longer recognised herself and wanted to die. She confirmed to the jury that this reflected how she had felt "for that entire month and ever since."
Prosecution Alleges Planned Attack
Opening the case for the prosecution, Samuel Skinner KC told the court the defendant's actions were calculated. He alleged the killing had been planned for several weeks and that the girl initially claimed a third party was responsible for the attack.
Mr Skinner said the teenager sent messages to friends suggesting she "probably wouldn't be in school for a while" and had "plainly thought she was getting away with murder." The prosecution contends that the defendant's mental health was not a factor, pointing out that after her arrest, she was seen smiling by a police officer and a nurse and showed no signs of confusion.
The trial, which is being heard at Lincoln's Magistrates' Court but is a Crown Court case, continues.
Marta Bednarczyk was described by her family as the "matriarch" and a loving mother. In a statement released through Northamptonshire Police, they said she had moved from Poland to the UK in 2010, settling in Wellingborough in 2012, and worked in a warehouse to support her family. They expressed being "heartbroken" and stated the tragic circumstances of her death "will haunt us forever."
