Latest news with #YsgolDyffrynAman
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Juror in court over collapse of school stabbing trial
A man accused of causing the collapse of a trial into a triple school stabbing has appeared in court. In April, a 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named, was sentenced to 15 years at Swansea Crown Court for the attempted murder of two teachers and a pupil, following the second trial that began in January. Christopher Elias, 45, from Waunceirch, Neath Port Talbot, has been charged with the offence of refusing to answer a question relating to the qualification to serve on a jury. He appeared in Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Monday, and has been told to return on 30 June. Girl, 14, who stabbed teachers sentenced to 15 years Stabbed teacher worried about safety in other schools Teacher says school stabbing was like horror movie Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil who cannot be named for legal reasons were stabbed by the teenager at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, last April. The first trial involving the girl collapsed in October, because of what the judge described as a "great irregularity in the jury". The charge on Mr Elias falls under the Juries Act 1974, which sets out requirements as to who is eligible for jury service in Wales and England, and permits court officers to put questions to potential jurors to establish whether or not they are qualified to form part of a jury. 'I'm going to kill you' - how school day turned to chaos amid stabbing Call for security guards at school gates after stabbing Deputy head raised behaviour issues before stabbing
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
Man appears in court over collapse of Ammanford school stabbing trial
Man appears in court over collapse of Ammanford school stabbing trial Christopher Elias, 45, denies a charge related to the original Ammanford school stabbing trial, which saw the jury being discharged by the judge Christopher Elias (right) leaves Cardiff Magistrates Court (Image: John Myers ) A man has appeared in court in connection with the collapse of the first trial into a stabbing at an Ammandford school. 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, 2025. The matter had originally gone to trial in October last year but the jury was discharged when the case was only 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 at an earlier date. Today, June 2, the case was due to be heard at Cardiff Magistrates Court but the matter was adjourned to June 30 and the defendant released on unconditional bail to that date. District Judge Christopher James said it was "deeply regrettable" that the hearing had to be pushed back again. He said: "It is regrettable that this matter is to be adjourned by four weeks." Article continues below Giles Hayes, defending, expressed his frustration that it was the third time the case had been to court and been adjourned, adding that his client was of "clean character". He said: "Each time we have come to court no-one can tell me what is happening with this case." Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . 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. Article continues below 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 she was sentenced to a 15-year detention.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Ammanford stabbing: Man appears in court over collapse of trial
A man accused of causing the collapse of a trial into a triple school stabbing has appeared in April, a 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named, was sentenced to 15 years at Swansea Crown Court for the attempted murder of two teachers and a pupil, following the second trial that began in Elias, 45, from Waunceirch, Neath Port Talbot, has been charged with the offence of refusing to answer a question relating to the qualification to serve on a appeared in Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Monday, and has been told to return on 30 June. Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil who cannot be named for legal reasons were stabbed by the teenager at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, last first trial involving the girl collapsed in October, because of what the judge described as a "great irregularity in the jury".The charge on Mr Elias falls under the Juries Act 1974, which sets out requirements as to who is eligible for jury service in Wales and England, and permits court officers to put questions to potential jurors to establish whether or not they are qualified to form part of a jury.
Sky News
22-05-2025
- Sky News
Husband of teacher stabbed at school in West Wales calls for action on pupil behaviour
The husband of a teacher who was stabbed by a pupil at a school in West Wales has called for urgent action to tackle behaviour. This article contains descriptions some readers may find distressing. Liz Hopkin was stabbed by a teenage girl at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Carmarthenshire, last April. Fellow teacher Fiona Elias and a pupil were also stabbed in the incident. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was detained for 15 years last month after she was convicted of three counts of attempted murder. Mrs Hopkin attempted to restrain the pupil after her colleague was stabbed in an outdoor area of the school during the mid-morning break on 24 April 2024. Recalling the day he saw his wife Liz "in a pool of blood", John Hopkin described the scene as "hectic". "Then she just assumed she was dying, so she was just apologising for going," Mr Hopkin told Sky News. "And that's when, not so much panic hit, but I didn't really know what was going on after that." The impact of the events of that day continue to have a profound effect on Mrs Hopkin and her family. "It's completely changed our whole life and family life," Mr Hopkin said. "Physically, [Liz is] recovering just knocked her right back and I think it's not going to be a quick process to get over that." 'Watershed moment' Mr Hopkin is calling for an independent inquiry into what happened at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. "I'm not bothered about accountability or blame, and Liz is neither," he added. "But what we do want is to see if there was anything that was done wrong to stop it happening again. "It won't happen in Dyffryn Aman, touch wood, but somewhere in Wales and somewhere in England, it will happen again." Carmarthenshire County Council told Sky News an "independently led review" is now under way following the conclusion of the trial. The council's cabinet member for education and the Welsh language, Glynog Davies, said the review would "ensure any good practice is highlighted and shared and that any lessons learnt are identified". Cllr Davies said the local authority had supported the victims as well as "the wider school community", with that support continuing "in individual and bespoke ways". A Welsh government summit is taking place on Thursday, which will focus on behaviour in schools. Mr Hopkin hopes the incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman will be "a watershed moment" and believes the Welsh government can take urgent steps to tackle pupil behaviour. Having worked in nine secondary schools all over Wales, Mr Hopkin says greater communication with teachers is needed and that a consistent approach is key. "Every single school deals with behaviour differently," Mr Hopkin said. "We've got a government that doesn't want to lead on this and is stopping schools from treating behaviour consistently. "It's a big issue and I don't think that the summit on its own is going to come up with the answers." He also called for a Wales-wide ban on smartphones in schools to improve behaviour. In March, a Senedd committee rejected a petition calling for a ban and instead recommended clearer guidance for schools. Plans to prohibit the use of mobile phones in England's schools were dropped last year. "Banning mobile phones in schools would make a massive difference," Mr Hopkin added. "And you can see schools that have banned them have found a really positive improvement in behaviour." Mr Hopkin also said that the problems facing schools in Wales were no "different" to other areas of the UK. "I think the Welsh government are reluctant to agree that the problems that are facing Wales are the same as the problems that face anywhere in England, whether it's in a city or in the countryside," he said. "The problems are everywhere, we're not protected by a big bubble." 'Sustained investment' Teaching unions have welcomed the summit but are calling for increased investment to tackle challenging behaviour. Nicola Fitzpatrick, interim Wales secretary for the National Education Union (NEU), told Sky News that its members wanted to see "action" from the government. "Unless increased and sustained investment is secured, then we just hinder the ability of all stakeholders to urgently address the issues in a way that meet the needs of learners, but crucially that keeps all staff and students safe," she said. "So we'd like to see some strong, clear, collaborative guidance that's consistent across all local authorities in Wales - that there aren't 22 different ways to do it - and that good practice and collaborative practice is shared." The Welsh government told Sky News that schools in Wales are "dealing with a whole range of wider societal issues on a daily basis and there is no one solution". "The summit is part of a longer program of work which includes our recent roundtable on violence and safety in schools and colleges and the commitment to provide clear guidance on the use of mobile phones," it said in a statement.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- The Independent
Man appears in court over school stabbing trial collapse
A man has appeared in court charged over the collapse of a school stabbing trial. Christopher Elias, 45, from Waunceirch, Neath Port Talbot, appeared before Swansea Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with the offence of refusing to answer a question relating to the qualification to serve on a jury. Elias was charged in relation to the collapse of the first Ammanford school stabbing trial, after a young girl attempted to murder two teachers and a fellow pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in April 2024. District Judge Christopher James adjourned the case until Monday June 2, to go before Cardiff Magistrates' Court. Judge James said the delay was 'regrettable' but necessary and granted Elias unconditional bail. A 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 15 years' detention last month for the attempted murder of Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and the pupil at the school following a retrial. The first trial collapsed in October last year, with the judge saying there had been a 'great irregularity in the jury'.
