Ammanford school stabbing: Man charged over collapsed trial
Ammanford school stabbing: Man charged over collapsed trial
Christopher Elias, 45, denies a charge related to the original trial in the Ammanford stabbing, which had to be discharged by the judge
A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the collapse of the first trial into the stabbing of two teachers and a pupil at Ammanford's Ysgol Dyffryn Aman
(Image: John Myers )
A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the collapse of the first trial into the Ammanford school stabbing. Last week a 14-year-old girl - who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions - was sentenced to 15 years detention after being convicted of the attempted murder of two teachers and a pupil at Ammanford's Ysgol Dyffryn Aman following a trial in January. The matter had originally gone to trial in October last year but the jury was discharged when the case was part-heard.
Christopher Elias, 45, of Millbank, Waunceirch, Neath, pleaded not guilty to an offence of refusing to answer a question relating to the qualification to serve on a jury - contrary to the Juries Act 1974 - when he appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court. The matter was adjourned to May 14 and the defendant was released on unconditional bail to that date.
The school stabbing trial heard the girl attacked deputy head teacher Fiona Elias, teacher Liz Hopkin and a female pupil during the school's morning break on April 24 last year. The girl approached Mrs Elias in the school yard and said "I'm going to f****** kill you" before stabbing her in the arms with the knife.
When Mrs Hopkin intervened and tried to restrain the girl, the teenager turned on her and stabbed her in the neck, back, legs and arms. Other members of teaching staff spoke to the defendant and tried to calm her down but she ran off and attacked a 14-year-old girl with the bladed multi-tool before being successfully restrained and disarmed.
The judge later said he believed the girl had done it "for attention" and added: "I believe you did what you did, above all, for attention - perhaps attention you have not had from others. I think, in a weird way, you actually enjoyed the reaction and publicity coming out of what you did." She was sentenced to a 15-year detention.
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