Murder accused thought he would be stabbed - court

Harvey Willgoose was killed during his lunch break at school in February

A 15-year-old schoolboy who stabbed a fellow pupil to death has told a jury he lost control after believing he was going to be knifed himself.

The boy, who is on trial at Sheffield Crown Court charged with the murder of Harvey Willgoose, said he had not wanted any trouble with his classmate and did not want to fight him.

Harvey, also 15, died after being stabbed during his lunch break at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on 3 February.

The defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a knife on school premises, but denies murder.

Giving evidence for a fourth day, the boy told the court Harvey had looked "angry, as if he was going to do something" when he walked up to the defendant.

He told Gul Nawaz Hussain KC, defending, that Harvey had one hand out and "one hand a bit in his trousers" which made him think he had a knife.

The youth, who had brought a knife into school that day, told the jury Harvey looked angry when he brought up a previous dispute they had had, and explained how Harvey had touched him on the shoulder.

The defendant said this made him feel "10/10" on a scale of being scared and he told the court that he said to Harvey: "My bad, just shake my hand."

Flowers were left outside All Saints Catholic High School following Harvey's death

He said: "If I said sorry and he shook my hand, I don't think anything would have happened."

But the defendant said Harvey angrily replied "no" and swore at him.

Mr Hussain asked: "When Harvey grabbed your shoulder, did he say anything?"

The boy said Harvey told him: "I will do you in and do you in proper this time."

He told the court: "I thought I would have got stabbed by Harvey."

The boy said he then pulled out his knife, telling the jury: "I was out of control in myself."

Asked how he felt when he realised he had stabbed the other boy, the defendant said: "It made me feel upset, scared and shocked."

Asked how he felt now, knowing Harvey had died because of what he did, the teenager said: "I feel bad and regret" and that he was "sorry" about how it had affected Harvey's family.

Richard Thyne KC, prosecuting, asked the boy what he had meant to do when he stabbed Harvey.

He replied: "I was not thinking, I was not in control of myself so I didn't really think of anything."

The trial continues.

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