Boy, 15, in court charged with attempted murder after school stabbing
A 15-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of attempting to murder a teenage girl who was stabbed in the back at a secondary school near Norwich.
The defendant, wearing a dark jumper and tracksuit bottoms, appeared in the secure dock at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Friday, accompanied by three security guards.
He spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth and was not asked to enter a plea to charges of attempted murder and possession of a knife on school premises.
Prosecutor Josephine Jones said the defendant and the girl accused of attacking were 15-year-old students of Thorpe St Andrew School.
Following a 999 call on Wednesday, the school was put on lockdown and armed police were sent to the scene.
“The security camera of the restroom area shows a male dressed in black, wearing a black mask,” and was carrying a “long-bladed carving knife,” the prosecutor said.
He added: “The victim had been stabbed in the back.”
Ms Jones said the defendant ran away but was arrested by police nearby.
District Judge Matthew Bone imposed restrictions on reporting; This means that the identities of the defendant and the girl cannot be published.
He sent the defendant to a youth detention home with his next hearing at Norwich Crown Court on 10 April.
The boy’s father was sitting in a chair outside the secure dock, close to his son, as he listened to the hearing. The father, who was offered a box of tissues at the end of the hearing, wiped the tears from his eyes.
Police were called to Thorpe St Andrew School, in Laundry Lane, at 10.24am on Wednesday following reports that a teenage girl had been stabbed.
The girl, who was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, was later discharged.
