A teenage girl has been sentenced to detention after stabbing her classmate in the neck at a school in Birmingham. The defendant, who was 13 at the time of the attack, was found guilty of wounding with intent but cleared of attempted murder.
The Attack
The incident occurred at a Birmingham school, lasting 33 seconds. Another pupil tried to separate the pair before staff intervened. The victim suffered a cut behind her ear and scratches to her face.
In the days prior, the defendant had uploaded disturbing material to social media, boasting about wanting to kill the victim simply because 'she's alive.' After the attack, she wrote in her diary: 'Today I tried to stab (the victim) LMAO (Laugh My Ass Off).'
Court Proceedings
At Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, June 8, the now-15-year-old defendant was sentenced to three years and four months detention. Justice Christina Lambert DBE concluded that no other sanction was appropriate, even though detention is a last resort in youth cases.
The court heard claims of bullying and a subsequent diagnosis of autism, but the judge ruled these did not reduce her blameworthiness. The defendant also admitted possessing a knife on school premises.
Reaction
The case has shocked the local community, highlighting concerns about school safety and youth violence. The victim's family has not commented publicly.
