Murder accused girl 'seemed composed', says doctor

Marta Bednarczyk died at a house in Wellingborough in March 2025

A 13-year-old girl accused of murdering a woman "seemed to enjoy" talking to a psychologist eight weeks after the killing, a jury has heard.

A court was told the teenager informed the consultant she heard a voice telling her to hurt Marta Bednarczyk, 43, who died on 10 March in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

The defendant, who cannot be named because of her age, accepts she unlawfully killed Ms Bednarczyk but denies murder, claiming diminished responsibility.

Dr Tim Diggle told Lincoln Crown Court he had assessed the girl for more than three hours in May and "she communicated very well".

The consultant clinical psychologist said: "Generally speaking, when I assess young people they tend to be more truculent, are often notably anxious and struggle to communicate and take part in the interview."

He told the jurors he agreed with an earlier psychiatric witness that the teenager was not suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning arising from a recognised medical condition at the time of the killing.

"She was very personable. She communicated very well... very effectively," Dr Diggle said.

"She was able to give quite elaborate descriptions and she seemed to enjoy taking part in the process, enjoy having an audience."

He added her communication skills seemed good, "both in regard of her spoken word and also non-verbal communication including things like eye contact".

The court heard the girl gave Dr Diggle an account of the lead-up to the knife attack, telling him it felt like her "body moved on its own".

He also told jurors he believed it was possible the defendant may have entered a "dissociative" state at the time of the alleged murder.

In addition, he agreed her state at the time of the killing may have affected her ability to recall events, the court heard.

Prosecutors allege the 13-year-old planned the fatal stabbing, using more than one knife and then tried to blame a third party.

Ms Marta Bednarczyk received more than 140 wounds, but was probably dead before her body was burned in a fire at the terrace property, the court previously heard.

The trial continues.