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School bomb plot pair not guilty School bomb plot pair not guilty
(20 minutes later)
Two teenagers have been found not guilty of planning a school bombing inspired by the Columbine massacre. Two teenagers have been found not guilty of planning a school bombing inspired by the US Columbine massacre.
Matthew Swift, 18, and Ross McKnight, 16, were accused of having planned to attack Audenshaw High School in Greater Manchester in April.Matthew Swift, 18, and Ross McKnight, 16, were accused of having planned to attack Audenshaw High School in Greater Manchester in April.
Manchester Crown Court heard the pair had become obsessed with killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.Manchester Crown Court heard the pair had become obsessed with killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.
But both denied conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions, claiming their plot was "fantasy".But both denied conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions, claiming their plot was "fantasy".
The jury took just 45 minutes of deliberations to clear the pair, who are both from Denton. Copycat attack
Teenage scribblings They were alleged to have become obsessed with Columbine killers Harris and Klebold, who murdered 12 students and a teacher before turning the guns on themselves in Colorado on 20 April 1999.
The jury took just 45 minutes to clear the pair, who are both from Denton, of planning a copycat attack.
I never doubted it. We are all just incredibly relieved Ray McKnight, defendant's father
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) based much of the case on journals and diaries kept by the pair, which were full of rants against society.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) based much of the case on journals and diaries kept by the pair, which were full of rants against society.
They also contained details of a plan termed "Project Rainbow", along with maps and plans of the school.They also contained details of a plan termed "Project Rainbow", along with maps and plans of the school.
Both Harris and Klebold had kept similar documents before their attack on 20 April 1999.Both Harris and Klebold had kept similar documents before their attack on 20 April 1999.
But defence lawyers told the jury the journals were the scribblings of teenagers with "over-active imaginations".But defence lawyers told the jury the journals were the scribblings of teenagers with "over-active imaginations".
The defendants both took the stand during their trial and told the jury their thoughts and writing never went beyond the realms of "fantasy".The defendants both took the stand during their trial and told the jury their thoughts and writing never went beyond the realms of "fantasy".
Jurors even laughed in court as Mr McKnight's father, Ray, a serving police officer with Greater Manchester Police, told the court his son was full of "hare-brained" schemes.
Prosecution defended
Both teenagers were cleared of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property between November 2007 and 15 March 2009.
Speaking moments after his son's acquittal, Ray McKnight said: "I never doubted it. We are all just incredibly relieved."
John Lord, reviewing lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service, defended the decision to prosecute the teenagers.
"The case brought against Matthew Swift and Ross McKnight was, we believe, one that was as equally strong as serious," he said.
"As such we felt it was in the public interest to ensure that the charges against the defendants were given the full scrutiny of a jury."