Girl said stabbing 'one way to celebrity' - court

The school in Ammanford was put into lockdown as Dyfed-Powys Police investigate

A teenager who stabbed two teachers and a pupil told police officers the attack was "one way to be a celebrity" as all eyes would be on her, a court has heard.

The girl, who cannot be named, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday charged with three counts of attempted murder at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Carmarthenshire, in April last year.

She admitted to the triple stabbing of Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil during morning break time at her school, but denied attempted murder.

The jury also heard that the teenager shouted she was "going to kill" people in the school.

The teenager repeatedly said "I'm going to kill you" as she first stabbed assistant head Ms Elias, and again when she attacked a pupil, the court heard.

School teacher Ms Hopkin tried to intervene to help Ms Elias, but was stabbed in her neck, back, legs and arm.

Two other teachers tried to calm the girl after she stabbed Ms Elias and Ms Hopkin, but she "rushed past them", and went on to stab a fellow pupil multiple times.

Prosecution barrister William Hughes KC described it as a "stand-off" where the teenager moved to another part of the school, and attacked the pupil saying she was going to kill them.

The teenager was said to have initially approached Ms Hopkin and Ms Elias insisting she wanted to go into the hall after being asked to leave by Ms Elias.

The assistant head recalled the girl looking at her with "sinister eyes" and playing with something in her pocket, said Mr Hughes.

When Ms Elias asked her what was in her pocket, the girl pulled out a blade, which belonged to her father and was kept in his fishing equipment, the jury heard.

Teachers Liz Hopkin (left) and Fiona Elias (right) were injured at the school on 24 April

The school in Ammanford was put into lockdown as Dyfed-Powys Police investigated. Pupils and teachers stayed in classrooms for four hours, while the girl was kept in a classroom until police arrived.

On her way to the police station, Mr Hughes said the teenager told an officer: "I'm pretty sure this is going to be on the news so more eyes will be looking at me. That's one way to be a celebrity."

Police officers found drawings relating to the pupil she stabbed at the teenager's home, as well as one with the words "Mrs Frogface Elias" and others which said "burning, drowning and death".

The court also heard a knife had been found in the teenager's bag by Ms Elias earlier in the school year.

Judge Paul Thomas KC told a jury on Monday that the first trial in this case at Swansea Crown Court had to be abandoned.

Det Sgt Holly Thomas of Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed details of the sequence of events on the day shown in CCTV to the jury.

The girl can be seen stabbing the floor in the lower school hall during the hour before the attack.

She is also shown sitting with a group of fellow pupils around a table, and appears to be playing with the knife in her pocket, William Hughes KC said.

A snapchat video showing the teenager being restrained after the triple stabbing was shown to the jury too, in which teachers could be heard shouting at pupils to get to their classes.

The girl admits stabbing the three but denies attempted murder.

The trial continues.