A teenager accused of stabbing a girl at Thorpe St Andrew School near Norwich left behind a written confession describing an interest in murder, hatred of women and a desire for admiration, a court has heard.
The defendant, who was 15 at the time and is now 16, is on trial for attempted murder at King’s Lynn Crown Court. He accepts stabbing the pupil but denies intending to kill her.
Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC said the boy had left notes which suggested a motive involving “misanthropy, misogyny, suicide, bullying”. One document indicated he believed he would either be dead or in custody when it was discovered.
The note allegedly said: “My barren world. Hello to all readers out there in the UK and perhaps the world. If you’re reading this, I’m either dead or in custody.”
It went on to describe his resentment towards himself and others, and claimed his hatred of women had intensified after the failure of a relationship. The teenager also allegedly questioned whether he was an “incel” or a misogynist before writing: “No. I just have good judgement.”
Mr Paxton told the jury that police found the writings pinned to the defendant’s bedroom wall after his arrest. Other material allegedly showed what the prosecution described as a “dangerous interest in killers and killing”.
The court heard he had created videos featuring serial killers including Ted Bundy, Ed Kemper and Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright. Other clips allegedly included Paul Spector, the killer from the BBC series The Fall, and Dexter Morgan, the fictional serial-killer vigilante from the US programme Dexter.
Girl was stabbed from behind at school
The alleged attack took place on March 11, when the school was placed in lockdown as police searched for the suspect. CCTV footage showed a masked pupil running from the scene and jumping over a school gate, leaving one glove behind.
When he was arrested shortly afterwards, his backpack allegedly contained the other glove, a mask and a black woollen hat. The defendant later directed officers to the knife, the court heard.
The injured girl was taken to hospital with a wound to the left of her spine, at the level of her shoulder blade. She was later released.
In a recorded police interview played to the court, she said she initially thought she had been punched after feeling a hand on her shoulder. She then realised she had been stabbed, began running and found she was struggling to open a door as her body became numb and weak.
The girl told officers she had never met or seen her attacker before and could think of no reason why anyone would want to harm her. Giving evidence, she said she did not know the defendant.
Mr Paxton said the prosecution’s case was that the teenager approached her from behind, raised the knife and struck her in the back with the intention of killing her.
He said that intention was supported not only by the circumstances of the attack but also by the defendant’s writings and his alleged obsession with violence.
One note allegedly said: “I really want to do it, really bad. I hate having to wait… but I have to wait. I need a plan.” It ended: “I want at least two, maybe three. I’d be proud of five.”
The jury also heard that the boy had written about being attracted to chaos, blood and murder, and had said: “I’ve seen killers being admired. I want admiration. Gratification.”
In another alleged piece of writing, he described stabbing a man in the street with a 10-inch knife. The court heard that, in November last year, he had taken a kitchen knife and later told his mother he had been feeling low and had intended to hurt himself, but had “chickened out”.
Help was sought from the school following that incident and the teenager agreed to counselling.
He remained silent during his police interview but admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a bladed article, the prosecution said. He denies attempted murder. The trial continues.
