A 16-year-old student has been acquitted of attempted murder in the stabbing of his history teacher, Vicki Williams, at Milford Haven comprehensive school in Pembrokeshire. The jury found the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The incident occurred in February when the student, who was 15 at the time, approached Ms. Williams' desk to check his schoolwork. According to the prosecution, the student pulled a large kitchen knife from his bag and attacked the teacher, striking her in the head. Ms. Williams testified that the student had a look of "pure hatred" during the attack and that the assault came "out of nowhere."
During the trial, defense counsel suggested the student had brought the knife to school to "show off" and had no prior animosity towards Ms. Williams. The student claimed he accidentally assaulted her during a struggle when she attempted to take the knife from his rucksack after seeing it.
Ms. Williams reported that the student had arrived at her classroom calmly at the end of the school day, which she found unusual. She stated that "alarm bells" rang when he closed the classroom door, citing the cold, and that he appeared to be trying to "keep her talking" while retrieving the knife.
Following the attack, the student fled the school. Ms. Williams was taken to the hospital and treated for a scalp wound, scratches on her back, and cuts on her hands. She told police she believed she was dying during the "sustained attack."
The jury reached its verdict on wounding with intent with an 11-to-one majority after deliberations lasting over four hours. The student had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a kitchen knife on school grounds. He is scheduled to be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on September 3.