Schoolboy who stabbed fellow pupil to death suffered abuse at home, trial told
The 15-year-old is on trial accused of murdering Harvey Willgoose, also 15, who was killed at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3.
On Wednesday, Sheffield Crown Court heard two consultant forensic psychiatrists agreed that there was 'evidence of physical and emotional abuse and neglect in (the defendant's) home life, including lack of food and excessive physical chastisement'.
In a list of agreed facts read to the jury by junior defence counsel Richard Holland, the psychiatrists said his 'oppositional behaviour and defiance' was more obvious in school.
They said that if he had had 'appropriate boundaries and discipline' he would have better emotional regulation, and that incidents of aggression in the weeks and months before the alleged murder were 'examples of his difficulties in controlling his emotions, including anger'.
Mr Holland said another report by two psychologists found the defendant's below average levels of verbal comprehension were because of his 'adverse early experiences rather than a neurodevelopmental disorder'.
The court also heard a copy of Harvey's school timetable was found in the defendant's bedroom, and that only a member of staff or Harvey would have been able to print it off.
A jury has heard that the defendant, who cannot be named, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.
He has also admitted possession of a knife on school premises.
Addressing the jury at the beginning of the trial, Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, defending, said: '(The defendant) did not set out to kill or seriously hurt anyone.
'The defence say (the defendant's) actions that day were the end result of a long period of bullying, poor treatment and violence, things that built one upon another until he lost control and did tragically what we've all seen.'
The trial continues.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
a few seconds ago
- The Independent
Teenager performing wheelie tackled to ground by Kent Police
Bodycam footage released by Kent Police shows an officer tackling a teenager who performed a wheelie, seemingly directly at him. The incident took place on 26 July after police responded to reports of 'nuisance' teenagers riding bikes into oncoming traffic and performing wheelies near the public. During the intervention, the officer grabbed the youngster mid-cycle and instructed him to 'stop it'. Other teenagers involved were issued section 35 dispersal orders, had their parents informed, and their bikes seized by officers. Watch the video in full above.
Daily Mail
a minute ago
- Daily Mail
Four dead in as many days at seaside beauty spot as woman's body is found beneath cliffs after couple and another lady were discovered
A fourth person has been found dead beneath the cliffs near Whitby in just a matter of days. Emergency services were alerted to the discovery of a body at Sandsend near Whitby Abbey just after 11am yesterday - where three others also died this week. Police later discovered the woman's body below the cliffs behind the main car park at Sandsend. Teams from the ambulance, police, coastguard, lifeboat and fire service all attended the scene. The woman's body was recovered at 12.55pm and the location was reopened to the public a few hours later following extensive enquiries. The woman's death follows the double tragedy of a man and woman - believed to be in their 40s - who plunged to their deaths from 200ft cliffs behind Whitby Abbey on Wednesday evening. The couple were seen heading towards the cliffs on a path on the North Yorkshire coast. Their bodies were recovered from the rocks below the 180ft cliffs on Wednesday evening following the apparent suicide pact. A day later on Thursday, a woman in her 60s was found dead by the cliffs near Whitby Pavilion. Police, ambulance, coastguard, mountain rescue and lifeboat teams were called after reports of the woman's death, which is believed to have involved a fall from the cliff. Due to the rocky location and high tide, mountain rescue assisted in recovering the woman's body to the lifeboat before being taken to the lifeboat house. North Yorkshire Police are not linking the third death, which is not believed to be suspicious, to the alleged double suicide, which the force continue to investigate. The area beside the historic 7th-century Abbey, which sits on the clifftop over the historic fishing port of Whitby, has been busy with people setting up for a vintage steam engine rally. North Yorkshire Police said of the latest tragedy that the woman's death is not being treated as suspicious. The force said in a statement: 'It has been confirmed that the woman is aged in her 50s and from the local area. 'Officers are supporting the woman's family at this difficult time. 'The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner.' Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information that could assist officers have been urged to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 12250143585. The force underlined: 'There are no connections between this sudden death, the sudden deaths of a man and woman below Whitby Abbey on Wednesday 30 July or the woman below Whitby Abbey on Thursday 31 July.'
Reuters
a minute ago
- Reuters
UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media
LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - People smugglers who use social media to promote their services to migrants seeking to enter Britain illegally could face five years in prison under plans announced by the government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government is under huge political and public pressure to cut the number of migrants arriving illegally in small boats from France. More than 25,000 people have made the crossing so far this year. Analysis by the Interior Ministry showed around 80% of migrants arriving on small boats had used social media during their journey to find or communicate with people smugglers. Under a new offence, which will be added to legislation already passing through parliament, individuals who post online to advertise services that facilitate a breach of immigration laws will face fines and prison sentences of up to five years. It is already an offence to facilitate illegal immigration to Britain, but the government said its latest plan would give law enforcement agencies another option to disrupt the criminal gangs that profit from organising the crossings. Last month, the government launched a new sanctions regime allowing it to freeze assets, impose travel bans and block access to the country's financial system for individuals and entities involved in enabling irregular migration.
