So, like, this 14-year-old girl got sentenced to 15 years in detention for stabbing two teachers and a pupil, right? Crazy stuff. She was all like “I’m going to kill you” while going on a stabbing spree at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire last April. The teachers, Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin, along with a pupil, ended up in the hospital with stab wounds. The girl, who can’t be named because of her age, will spend at least half of her sentence behind bars. Like, can you imagine being in detention for 15 years at 14? That’s rough.
During the trial at Swansea Crown Court in February, Ms. Hopkin expressed her concerns about the girl’s future, while Ms. Elias talked about the nightmare the girl put her, her family, and the whole school through. The girl carried a multi-tool knife that belonged to her dad and used it to attack Ms. Elias. The judge, Paul Thomas KC, mentioned that the girl didn’t show any remorse and attacked the three victims for attention. Sounds like a cry for help, if you ask me.
The jury heard that the girl kept saying “I’m going to kill you” as she stabbed Ms. Elias multiple times. The teacher ended up with wounds on both her arms. Other students mentioned that the girl had been talking about stabbing Ms. Elias and doing something to get expelled. Ms. Hopkin tried to stop the girl during the attack and got stabbed in the process. She had injuries on her neck, back, legs, and arms. Like, that’s intense. After that, the girl went after another pupil, shouting “I’m going to kill you” before stabbing her in the arm. Luckily, a teacher named Darrel Campbell managed to restrain her until the police arrived.
Ms. Elias got emotional in court as she talked about the moment she saw the blade coming at her. She mentioned how the scars on her arms serve as a constant reminder of the pain she went through. The girl really tried to end her life, which is just so messed up. Ms. Elias also mentioned how her daughter found out about the incident through social media, which must have been traumatic for her. The girl really put everyone through hell that day.
Ms. Hopkin, on the other hand, directed her statement at the girl, expressing how her life has been forever changed by the calculated violence she experienced. She talked about the physical and emotional scars that still linger from that day. Despite the trauma, she’s glad she was there to stop the girl from killing Ms. Elias. She believes she saved both of them that day. The girl may have tried to be a murderer, but Ms. Hopkin wasn’t about to let that happen. She’s still haunted by the events of that day and worries about the girl’s future. It’s a tough situation all around.
The judge, Thomas, added that he didn’t think the girl was sorry for what she did and actually enjoyed the attention she got from it. He believed she did it all for the spotlight, which is kinda messed up. The girl had been making threats even after the incident last April, so she’s definitely a cause for concern. Thomas hopes she turns her life around, despite everything that’s happened. I mean, we can only hope for the best, right?
Outside the court, Ms. Hopkin expressed how there’s no real silver lining in a situation like this. She wishes it never happened in the first place. Extreme violence in schools is becoming more common, and she’s calling for urgent action from leaders. The whole thing is just a reminder that these incidents can happen anywhere, not just in big cities. Small towns like Carmarthenshire aren’t immune to this kind of violence, and it needs to be addressed.
So, yeah, that’s the lowdown on the whole stabbing incident. It’s a tough situation for everyone involved. Let’s hope things get better from here on out.
