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Ammanford stabbing: Schoolgirl sentenced to 15 years after attack | Ammanford stabbing: Schoolgirl sentenced to 15 years after attack |
(32 minutes later) | |
The moment before 14-year-old girl stabs teachers | |
A 14-year-old girl who stabbed two teachers and a pupil while screaming "I'm going to kill you" has been sentenced to 15 years in detention. | A 14-year-old girl who stabbed two teachers and a pupil while screaming "I'm going to kill you" has been sentenced to 15 years in detention. |
The teenager, who cannot be named due to her age, will serve at least half the sentence in custody. | |
She was found guilty of attempted murder in a second trial at Swansea Crown Court in February after the first collapsed. | |
Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil were treated in hospital with stab wounds after the attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Carmarthenshire, last April. | Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil were treated in hospital with stab wounds after the attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Carmarthenshire, last April. |
Speaking in court, Ms Hopkins told the teenager "you are not a murderer" while Ms Elias said the defendant had put her, her family and the entire school "through hell". | |
The teenager, who brought a weapon to school every day, used her father's multi-tool knife to initially attack Ms Elias on 24 April 2024. | The teenager, who brought a weapon to school every day, used her father's multi-tool knife to initially attack Ms Elias on 24 April 2024. |
Judge Paul Thomas, sentencing, said the girl had not shown remorse and had attacked the three for attention. | Judge Paul Thomas, sentencing, said the girl had not shown remorse and had attacked the three for attention. |
The jury heard she repeatedly stabbed Ms Elias saying "I'm going to kill you" and the teacher suffered wounds to both arms. | The jury heard she repeatedly stabbed Ms Elias saying "I'm going to kill you" and the teacher suffered wounds to both arms. |
Fellow pupils said the defendant previously told them she would stab Ms Elias and "do something stupid" that would get her expelled. | |
Ms Hopkin intervened during the incident to try and restrain the girl and was also stabbed, receiving injuries to her neck, back, legs and arms, the court heard. | |
After a "stand off", the girl then ran at a 14-year-old pupil with the knife and shouted "I'm going to kill you" before stabbing her, causing a wound to the upper arm. | |
She was restrained by teacher Darrel Campbell until she was later arrested. | |
Teachers Fiona Elias (left), Liz Hopkin (right) and a pupil were injured in the stabbing at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman last April | |
During the hearing, Ms Elias started reading her victim impact statement in tears and said she would never forget the moment she saw the tip of the blade. | |
"The image is etched in my mind," she said, "it's a moment that replays itself over and over". | |
"The scars on my arms are a daily reminder of the pain I endured. She tried to murder me." | |
Ms Elias said she has received counselling to "stop the spirals" before they "consume" her. | |
She said her daughter found out about her involvement in the incident on social media when a photo was shared of Ms Hopkin on a stretcher with the caption 'RIP Mrs Elias'. | |
"Those three words have haunted her ever since," she said. | |
Pupils at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman went into lockdown following the stabbings during morning break on 24 April | |
Ms Elias addressed the teenager in court and said: "Your motive was clear, you tried to murder me. | |
"Thankfully, thanks to Liz's selfless actions, you didn't manage to finish what you started. | |
"You have put me, my family and the entire school though hell." | |
Ms Elias said she had not ruled out meeting with the teenager in future, and will use her experience to campaign for teachers' safety. | |
She finished her statement with the words her husband wrote in a card following the incident. | |
"I always knew that you give your time to the school, give your heart to the school, but I never expected you to give your blood," Ms Elias said. | |
"I will always give my heart to Ysgol Dyffryn Aman," she added. | |
Liz Hopkin told the teenager that despite what she did, she doesn't want the attack to define her future | |
Reading her statement, Ms Hopkin turned to look at the teenager and said her life had been changed forever due to the defendant's "calculated violence". | |
She told the court the scars from that day remain not only on her body but "deep within". | |
"I was fighting for my life in a place where I should have felt safe," she said, adding her son and husband who work at the school found her "in a pool of blood". | |
"Although this has been the worst experience of my life, I'm glad it was me that was there that day," she said. | |
"I'm glad I stopped you from killing [Fiona Elias]. I truly believe I saved you both that day. You are not a murderer. | |
"I would not let you carry out your plan. I'm still here, I'm still alive, though at the time I was sure I was going to die." | |
Ms Hopkin said the girl had "been with her" every day since the attack. | |
Addressing the teenager, she said: "Despite what you did, I worry about your future." | |
"I don't want to be what happened that day to be what defines you." | |
Michael Cray, of the Crown Prosecution Service, described the incident as "terrifying" for the victims and those who witnessed it. | |
In a statement, he said: "Too often we hear of incidents involving knives ending in the tragic loss of life. | |
"We would like to acknowledge the bravery of the staff and pupils at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman at this very difficult time." |