Northallerton school gun plot accused 'cannot answer' casepublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 21 May 2018
Two 15-year-old boys accused of plotting to murder pupils and teachers at a school in Northallerton did not take to the witness box because they "cannot answer the prosecution's case", a court has heard.
Summing up the case for the prosecution today, Paul Greaney QC claimed that the teenagers' alleged plans to "shoot up" their school amounted to "real-life intent" rather than "childish fantasy".
During his speech at Leeds Crown Court, he said the older of the two defendants had "revelled" in the massacre at Columbine High School, which saw 12 students and a teacher killed.
Parallels were drawn with evidence that was found in relation to the two friends, including a diary written by the older of the pair which reflected a "homicidal state of mind".
The court had previously heard how the younger of the two defendants had said during a police interview that, in contrast to his friend, he had no genuine intent to carry out a shooting.
The trial continues.