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Ex-pupil 'wanted to torch school' | Ex-pupil 'wanted to torch school' |
(9 minutes later) | |
One of two teenagers accused of planning a copycat Columbine massacre at his former school told friends he wanted to "torch" it, a jury heard. | One of two teenagers accused of planning a copycat Columbine massacre at his former school told friends he wanted to "torch" it, a jury heard. |
Matthew Swift, 18, and Ross McKnight, 16, are accused of plotting to bomb a shopping centre and shoot students at Audenshaw School in Greater Manchester. | Matthew Swift, 18, and Ross McKnight, 16, are accused of plotting to bomb a shopping centre and shoot students at Audenshaw School in Greater Manchester. |
A female friend of former pupil Mr Swift told Manchester Crown Court he hated the school. | A female friend of former pupil Mr Swift told Manchester Crown Court he hated the school. |
The pair deny conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. | The pair deny conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions. |
The court heard Mr Swift would fly into a rage if told off by a teacher. | The court heard Mr Swift would fly into a rage if told off by a teacher. |
His friend, who cannot be identified, told the court: "He said he hated the place and wished he'd never come there. | His friend, who cannot be identified, told the court: "He said he hated the place and wished he'd never come there. |
'Really angry' | 'Really angry' |
"He wanted to torch it. His words would be quite violent, he wanted to burn it down or break windows." | "He wanted to torch it. His words would be quite violent, he wanted to burn it down or break windows." |
She also told prosecutor Peter Wright QC that Mr Swift was "quite funny" but that "sometimes he would have a bit of a bad temper and say stuff I didn't really take to mean much - he said throwaway things". | She also told prosecutor Peter Wright QC that Mr Swift was "quite funny" but that "sometimes he would have a bit of a bad temper and say stuff I didn't really take to mean much - he said throwaway things". |
The prosecution claims the pair planned to launch their attack at the school on the 10th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado in the US. | The prosecution claims the pair planned to launch their attack at the school on the 10th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado in the US. |
One teacher and 12 students were killed in the US attack on 20 April 1999. | One teacher and 12 students were killed in the US attack on 20 April 1999. |
I felt the people who did it [the Columbine massacre] were evil and he didn't Evidence by friend of Mr Swift | I felt the people who did it [the Columbine massacre] were evil and he didn't Evidence by friend of Mr Swift |
The prosecution also alleges they planned to bomb the Crown Point North shopping centre in Denton. | The prosecution also alleges they planned to bomb the Crown Point North shopping centre in Denton. |
The girl added Mr Swift, who was good at art and design, but "really angry" when told off, hated certain teachers. | The girl added Mr Swift, who was good at art and design, but "really angry" when told off, hated certain teachers. |
She told the jury that during a conversation in an online chat room with Mr Swift last December, he told her: "If I ever text you not to come into college don't question it." | She told the jury that during a conversation in an online chat room with Mr Swift last December, he told her: "If I ever text you not to come into college don't question it." |
When she asked why, he added: "I'm just in a bad mood, just leave it." | When she asked why, he added: "I'm just in a bad mood, just leave it." |
The girl revealed a conversation they had had after watching a film in school about the Columbine massacre. | The girl revealed a conversation they had had after watching a film in school about the Columbine massacre. |
"I felt the people who did it were evil and he didn't think that," she told the court. | "I felt the people who did it were evil and he didn't think that," she told the court. |
When cross examined by Mr Swift's barrister Stephen Riordan QC about the defendant's alleged threat to destroy the school, she said: "I thought he was just winding me up or saying things to impress other people he was with." | |
'Vivid imagination' | |
A journal was found in Mr Swift's bedroom after he was re-arrested by police in March, the court heard. | |
Mr Wright read excerpts of the notepad to the jury in which the Columbine murdered were named. | |
In it Mr Swift allegedly wrote: "Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold will rise again." | |
"This was a script/story, set of ideas, for a character similar to Eric Harris," it said. | |
"This is the reason I kept the journal because I wanted to incorporate it into my story," the text said. | |
Mr Swift also allegedly wrote that the plan was "never concrete", the jury heard. | |
In another entry, read out to the court, the text read: "I was 16 with a vivid imagination." It went on to say: "I was a boy who didn't want to face up to my fears. I was going through a rebellious stage." | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |