A judge exploded in anger whilst telling a teenage boy accused of murdering Harvey Willgoose to death in a school that he will face trial this summer.
The Recorder of Sheffield Judge Jeremy Richardson KC had just begun addressing the 15-year-old youth when a number of people attempted to enter courtroom two of Sheffield Crown Court prompting the judge to yell: “Get out!”
Judge Richardson stormed: “I am dealing with a murder case, anybody not in here at the moment get out. I’m not accustomed to being interrupted when I am addressing a defendant. Get out! Those who have just come in get out. I’m not having it – the discourtesy is appalling.”
The alleged killer was making his first crown court appearance after being arrested after Harvey, 15, died following an incident at Harvey at All Saints Catholic School in Sheffield on Monday lunchtime.
He was remanded to a youth detention centre and appeared before the city’s magistrates’ court on Wednesday ahead of today’s 15-minute hearing at the Crown Court.
Along with the murder of Harvey with an alleged hunting knife he is also charged with possession of a bladed article and affray.
No plea was entered but Judge Richardson told the boy, who sat at the rear of the courtroom, that a provisional trial date of June 30th was being set with an anticipated length of three to four weeks.
The court was told there may be as many as 20 child witnesses with police interviewing pupils who were present when Harvey suffered his devastating injuries.
Judge Richardson told the boy, who cannot be named, that he was “determined” he would receive a fair trial.
He told the boy: “I am determined that you will be tried fairly, there is no question about that.
“Your trial is going to take place at the end of June, throughout July.
“Occasionally, young people like you think that it will be a good thing if they sit and wait at the remand home and refuse to come to court.
“If you do that, first it would be very silly, and secondly we will not wait. The case would just go on without you, so please make sure you turn up for every hearing.
“You have a right to give evidence in your trial. If you choose not to, there may be consequences. You need to consult with your lawyers before making a decision.”
The youth, who sat in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit, heard that his trial was expected to last four weeks.
The defendant was remanded to youth custody ahead of a plea and directions hearing before the same court in late April.
The city’s magistrates court previously Rob Coyne, prosecuting, describe how a “Rambo or hunting-style knife” had been recovered, adding: “It went through Harvey’s ribcage and punctured his heart.”
He said the incident was captured on CCTV.
Harvey’s devastated mum Caroline, 49, revealed his final words to her were: “I love you.”
She said: “He shouted downstairs, ‘I’m going to school, Mum. Are you proud of me?’
“I went, ‘Yeah’, and followed him out and he went, ‘Lock the door behind me and I love you’. They were his last words.”
She added: “I have got his grubby T-shirt on so I can smell him.
“I don’t want to go to sleep because I don’t want to wake up and relive it all. I don’t want anybody to go through what we are.”
Harvey’s father Mark said his Sheffield United-loving son was his “best pal” and a “loveable rogue”.