A camping trip in Hull turned into a horror scene as a 15-year-old boy stabbed a girl, now 14, ten times with a sword. The teenager has been convicted of attempted murder after a jury unanimously agreed at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday morning. A witness described the girl as “lucky” to survive after she sustained 10 severe stab wounds on November 1 last year. The boy was part of a group of seven who went on a Halloween camping trip in a field off the A63 in Hull. The girl had reportedly only known the boy for a couple of months.
The jury was sent out on Tuesday to retire and reach a verdict – the teenager, who cannot be legally named, was present in the dock to hear the verdict. Judge John Thackray KC thanked the jury and postponed the sentencing hearing until April 4, Hull Live reports. The judge told the teenager that he needed a greater understanding of his background and the risk he poses to the public upon his release after serving his sentence. He also wanted to read a psychological report and a pre-sentence report from the probation service.
Prosecutor David Lamb KC previously said how the teenager attacked the girl with a Kortada sword which is similar in shape and size to a Samurai sword. “With that fearsome item, this defendant inflicted ten stab wounds to her chest, back, neck and arms,” said Mr Lamb.
“As a result of those injuries, that young girl came very close to losing her life.”
The court also heard that after he caused those devastating injuries, the boy chose to leave her alone, bleeding heavily and frightened, in a secluded, dark, wooded area.
Mr Lamb said the boy has admitted responsibility for stabbing the girl, having been handed £20 by a teenage girl, 15 at the time, to do it. He claimed she and the victim of the stabbing had been arguing all evening.
However, this account vastly differs from the one he first gave to the police.
The jury heard that the teenage boy was attempting to impress another girl because he “fancied” her. She had taken a sword, which belonged to her father, because she was going to sell it. The older girl reportedly told the teenage boy to “go hurt her”.
When the victim walked away from the group, the boy followed her and pinned her to the ground while she pleaded, “Please, don’t do this. Go away”. He said: “I’m sorry but I have to do this”. The girl then scrambled down to passing motorists who stopped to help where – she was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary before being transferred to hospital in Leeds.
“He accepts that it was him and only him who attacked her,” said Mr Lamb. “He accepts that he stabbed her with the sword. He accepts that, in doing so, he inflicted those injuries.
“He accepts that he was not acting in self-defence. He accepts that, when he attacked her with the sword, he intended to cause her really serious harm.”
The judge has urged the defendant to cooperate with the Youth Justice Team in preparation of the reports, with Defence barrister David Godfrey assisting in the preparation of the reports.
The defendant was remanded in custody until the sentencing hearing next month.
