Boy admits stabbing 15-year-old but denies murder

Harvey Willgoose died after being stabbed in the chest at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield

A 15-year-old boy has admitted stabbing a student to death at a school in Sheffield, but denied his murder.

Harvey Willgoose, also 15, died after being stabbed in the chest at All Saints Catholic High School, in Granville Road, on Monday 3 February.

At Sheffield Crown Court on Monday the defendant, who cannot be named because of his age, admitted manslaughter but denied murder. He also pleaded guilty to having a blade on school premises.

A murder trial date was set for 30 June with the boy being remanded into youth detention custody.

The judge, Jeremy Richardson KC, addressed the boy, who was flanked by security staff and an intermediary.

"A jury will decide if you are guilty or not guilty of the more serious charge of murder," the Recorder of Sheffield said, before asking if he understood what had been said during the hearing.

A previous court hearing heard Harvey was stabbed twice in the chest while on a lunch break at the school.

Since his death, Harvey's parents have campaigned against knife crime and said they wanted to set up a youth club in Sheffield in his memory.

Floral tributes were left at Harvey's school following his death

They have called for knife arches, similar to the metal detectors used in courts and at airports, to be installed in secondary schools, saying they "didn't want anyone to go through what we have".

Harvey's funeral, which was held at Sheffield Cathedral a fortnight after his death, was attended by hundreds of people.

The school's head teacher described Harvey as an "immensely popular" young man whose "smile would light up the room".

An anti-knife crime march was held in Sheffield the weekend after his death, as Harvey's family and friends were joined by thousands.