A 15-year-old boy locked a history teacher inside her classroom before carrying out a knife attack on her, a court has been told. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, previously pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Vicki Williams at Milford Haven Comprehensive School in February.
Prosecution Details the Attack
The pupil, who is now 16 years old, is accused of stabbing a teacher in the head, a jury at Swansea Crown Court heard on Monday. Christopher Rees KC, prosecuting, said the boy launched a "sustained attack" on Ms Williams and would have continued had the teacher not disarmed him. Mr Rees told the jury: "(He) deliberately stabbed Vicki Williams to the head and continued the attack. The prosecution case is that (he) intended on killing Vicki Williams. (The boy) would've continued this murderous attack had Vicki Williams not grabbed the knife and fended (him) off."
Classroom Incident Unfolds
Opening the case, Mr Rees said the boy entered Ms Williams' classroom at around 3pm on February 5. The court heard the pupil approached her desk and asked her to check some of his work. It was when he closed the door to the otherwise empty classroom, claiming it was cold, that "alarm bells" began to ring in her head. The jury was told the student then produced a large kitchen knife from his bag, striking her in the head.
The court heard that a "violent struggle" broke out during which Ms Williams "screamed blue murder" and ultimately managed to wrestle the knife from him. The jury was told the boy fled the school but was subsequently arrested at a relative's address.
Teacher's Injuries and Police Interview
Ms Williams was treated at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, where medics discovered a wound to her scalp, scratches across her back and minor cuts to her hands. Mr Rees told the court: "The prosecution case is that the whole incident was planned by (the pupil). (He) closed the door because he wanted to isolate Vicki Williams so that he could attack her." Ms Williams later gave a police interview in which she stated he remained silent as he "lunged at her". Mr Rees added: "(She said) she had never seen eyes like it. She described the look on his face as pure hatred."
Defence and Charges
The jury heard that the boy had already pleaded guilty to carrying a kitchen knife on school premises. Mr Rees said: "The defence case is that (he) did not intend to kill or cause grievous bodily harm or even to assault Vicki Williams. His defence is these injuries were caused accidentally when, on the defence case, he refused to hand over the knife when asked to do so by Vicki Williams." The boy faces charges of attempted murder, unlawful wounding and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The trial at Swansea Crown Court continues.
