A 15-year-old adolescent has made a court appearance facing charges of attempted homicide after a female teenager was stabbed in the back at a secondary school close to Norwich.
The accused, dressed in a dark jumper and tracksuit bottoms, was present in the secure dock at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Friday, accompanied by three security officers.
During the court session, the defendant provided basic personal details and did not enter pleas regarding the charges of attempted murder and possession of a weapon on school grounds.
According to Prosecutor Josephine Jones, both the defendant and the victim, also 15 years old, are students at Thorpe St Andrew School. Following several emergency calls on Wednesday, the school was put on lockdown, and armed police were dispatched to the site.
Jones mentioned that CCTV footage from the restroom area depicted a male dressed in all black, wearing a black mask, and carrying a large-bladed knife. The victim sustained a stab wound to her back.
After the incident, the defendant attempted to flee but was apprehended by law enforcement officers in the vicinity.
District Judge Matthew Bone imposed restrictions on reporting, prohibiting the publication of the identities of the defendant and the victim. The defendant was detained in a youth facility, with the next court appearance scheduled for April 10 at Norwich Crown Court.
During the court proceedings, the boy’s father, who was seated near his son outside the secure dock, visibly emotional, wiped away tears and was provided with tissues for comfort.
Authorities responded to Thorpe St Andrew School on Laundry Lane at 10:24 am on Wednesday after receiving reports of the stabbing incident involving the teenage girl. The victim received medical treatment for minor injuries and has since been discharged from the hospital.