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| Ann Maguire murder: Teenage boy pleads guilty to stabbing teacher to death in classroom | Ann Maguire murder: Teenage boy pleads guilty to stabbing teacher to death in classroom |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A teenage boy has pleaded guilty to murdering teacher Ann Maguire as she taught her class at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds. | A teenage boy has pleaded guilty to murdering teacher Ann Maguire as she taught her class at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds. |
| The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was only 15 when he stabbed her to death in April and his parents said they were "at a loss" over his motive. | The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was only 15 when he stabbed her to death in April and his parents said they were "at a loss" over his motive. |
| He admitted the killing at Leeds Crown Court today and is awaiting to hear his sentence at a later date. | He admitted the killing at Leeds Crown Court today and is awaiting to hear his sentence at a later date. |
| Mrs Maguire’s husband, Donald, and her daughters, Emma and Kerry, were in court for the hearing, when the defendant looked straight ahead and showed no emotion as he admitted murdering Mrs Maguire. | Mrs Maguire’s husband, Donald, and her daughters, Emma and Kerry, were in court for the hearing, when the defendant looked straight ahead and showed no emotion as he admitted murdering Mrs Maguire. |
| The court heard harrowing details of the attack, when the teacher was stabbed repeatedly in the back and neck even as she tried to run away. | |
| Paul Greaney, a lawyer for the prosecution, told the court his family were "decent people and responsible parents". | Paul Greaney, a lawyer for the prosecution, told the court his family were "decent people and responsible parents". |
| "They are at a loss to understand how and why their son has turned out as he has and they have co-operated fully with the police and with the prosecution," he added. | "They are at a loss to understand how and why their son has turned out as he has and they have co-operated fully with the police and with the prosecution," he added. |
| "It follows that this is not one of those cases in which a defendant's actions may find a degree of explanation in his family circumstances. | "It follows that this is not one of those cases in which a defendant's actions may find a degree of explanation in his family circumstances. |
| "On the contrary, (the boy's) family life was marked by love and support." | "On the contrary, (the boy's) family life was marked by love and support." |
| He was a pupil in Mrs Maguire's Spanish class and his academic reports “had generally been positive”, Mr Greaney said. | |
| But although his parents or teachers saw nothing to indicate a risk of violence, the boy had told other children he hated Mrs Maguire and wanted her dead. | But although his parents or teachers saw nothing to indicate a risk of violence, the boy had told other children he hated Mrs Maguire and wanted her dead. |
| Mr Greaney told the court: “Late on the night of Christmas Eve 2013 and into the early hours of Christmas Day, the defendant exchanged messages with a friend on Facebook. | Mr Greaney told the court: “Late on the night of Christmas Eve 2013 and into the early hours of Christmas Day, the defendant exchanged messages with a friend on Facebook. |
| “In those messages he spoke of 'brutally killing' Mrs Maguire and spending the rest of his life in jail so as not to have to worry about life or money.” | “In those messages he spoke of 'brutally killing' Mrs Maguire and spending the rest of his life in jail so as not to have to worry about life or money.” |
| Two months before the murder, one Facebook shown to the court said: “The one absolute f****** b**** that deserves more than death, more than pain and more than anything that we can understand.” | Two months before the murder, one Facebook shown to the court said: “The one absolute f****** b**** that deserves more than death, more than pain and more than anything that we can understand.” |
| Emma Maguire, second left, and her father Don, right, hug well-wishers following the funeral of Ann Maguire On the morning of the attack, the boy reportedly told other pupils he was going to stab Mrs Maguire, even showing them the knives he was carrying along with a bottle of Jack Daniels "to celebrate". | Emma Maguire, second left, and her father Don, right, hug well-wishers following the funeral of Ann Maguire On the morning of the attack, the boy reportedly told other pupils he was going to stab Mrs Maguire, even showing them the knives he was carrying along with a bottle of Jack Daniels "to celebrate". |
| Mr Greaney said he "winked" at a fellow student before entering her classroom and one witness said there was no expression on his face as he stabbed her. | Mr Greaney said he "winked" at a fellow student before entering her classroom and one witness said there was no expression on his face as he stabbed her. |
| Mrs Maguire had been leaning over looking at a pupil's work when he attacked her from behind with a "large kitchen knife", stabbing her in the neck and back. | Mrs Maguire had been leaning over looking at a pupil's work when he attacked her from behind with a "large kitchen knife", stabbing her in the neck and back. |
| She attempted to run away but was chased by the boy, who "stabbed her as she sought to escape", Mr Greaney said. | She attempted to run away but was chased by the boy, who "stabbed her as she sought to escape", Mr Greaney said. |
| After the attack, the murderer was reportedly calm and chatted to teachers and pupils "as if nothing had happened". | |
| The languages teacher, 61, was months away from retiring when she was attacked in the classroom in front of terrified pupils. | The languages teacher, 61, was months away from retiring when she was attacked in the classroom in front of terrified pupils. |
| Her death sparked an outpouring of grief in Leeds and a renewed focus on the violence and threats teachers face throughout the UK. | Her death sparked an outpouring of grief in Leeds and a renewed focus on the violence and threats teachers face throughout the UK. |
| A photograph and flowers hang on the fence outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in tribute to Ann Maguire in Leeds More than 300 pupils and teachers attended a memorial service in her honour and a mass of floral tributes were left outside the school gates after the tragedy. | A photograph and flowers hang on the fence outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in tribute to Ann Maguire in Leeds More than 300 pupils and teachers attended a memorial service in her honour and a mass of floral tributes were left outside the school gates after the tragedy. |
| The Pope also contacted the Catholic family with a message of condolence following Mrs Maguire’s death. | The Pope also contacted the Catholic family with a message of condolence following Mrs Maguire’s death. |
| It was thought to be the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom, and the first killing of a teacher in a school since the 1996 Dunblane massacre. | It was thought to be the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom, and the first killing of a teacher in a school since the 1996 Dunblane massacre. |
| She started at Corpus Christi as a student teacher and the school held a celebration of her 40 years' service last year. | She started at Corpus Christi as a student teacher and the school held a celebration of her 40 years' service last year. |
| Mrs Maguire had moved to working four days a week ahead of her planned retirement in five months' time. | Mrs Maguire had moved to working four days a week ahead of her planned retirement in five months' time. |
| In a statement, her family paid tribute to their “shining light”, who “brightened the world for so many of us”. | In a statement, her family paid tribute to their “shining light”, who “brightened the world for so many of us”. |
| They added: “A loving wife, the best mother, a treasured sister, a true friend. This horrific happening has robbed us of all of this and so much more. | They added: “A loving wife, the best mother, a treasured sister, a true friend. This horrific happening has robbed us of all of this and so much more. |
| "We are devastated. Her selfless, genuine, caring nature will remain with us eternally.” | "We are devastated. Her selfless, genuine, caring nature will remain with us eternally.” |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |