A teenager obsessed with serial killers who stabbed a girl in his school in an unprovoked attack was convicted of attempted murder today.
asserted
who → obsess → murder
The boy, who also had dark thoughts about his 'hatred for women', was 15 when he approached his innocent victim in a corridor while wearing a mask and plunged the blade into her back.
asserted
he → have → back
The attack sparked a desperate hunt for the assailant, who escaped after running from the scene and leapt over a gate while being chased by a teacher.
asserted
who → spark → teacher
Thorpe St Andrew School near Norwich in Norfolk was kept in lockdown for several hours until armed police located the suspect, who can’t be named for legal reasons.
asserted
who → keep → reasons
Worried parents congregated outside after hearing about the incident on social media.
asserted
parents → congregate → media
The ensuing investigation revealed a ‘dangerous interest in killers and killing’, after he was found to have used an app to create disturbing videos, including one showing serial killers Ed Kemper and Ted Bundy 'dancing over a still image of the globe’.
asserted
Kemper → ensue → globe
Notes found by police appeared to show a motive, which the boy described as ‘misanthropy, misogyny, suicide, bullying’.
asserted
boy → find → bullying
Armed police arrest the suspect following the knife attack at Thorpe St Andrew School near Norwich
The teenager admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article and denied attempted murder.
asserted
teenager → arrest → murder
But the jury at King’s Lynn Crown Court, which retired yesterday morning to consider their verdict, today convicted him of the offence, following the two-week trial.
asserted
which → retire → trial
The boy's collection of twisted videos made on the CapCut app also included a video compilation of BBC series The Fall’s twisted killer, Paul Spector.
asserted
collection → make → killer
Another showed Dexter Morgan, a serial killer vigilante from the long-running US programme Dexter, ‘dancing over a map of Florida with a list of names of the victims’.
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Morgan → show → victims
A classroom is checked by police after the school was placed in lockdown
Teachers barricaded doors while officers hunted for the teenager
Worried families waited outside after hearing about the incident
Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright, who killed five prostitutes from Ipswich in 2006, was also referenced.
The court heard the boy had also written that he had 'seen killers being admired, I want admiration, gratification.
asserted
I → check → gratification
I've wanted this for years.
asserted
I → want → years
I don't care who I hurt.
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I → care → who
Other notes found at his bedroom described how ‘the idea of violence or possibly even murder sparks something in me’.
uncertain
idea → find → me
One appeared to outline a plan for multiple murders.
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One → appear → murders
It said: ‘I really want to do it, really bad.
asserted
I → say → it
I hate having to wait… but I have to wait.
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I → hate → ?
I need a plan…
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I → need → plan
‘I want at least two, maybe three.
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I → want → three
And a suicide note found pinned to his wall said bleakly: ‘My barren world.
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note → find → world
If you’re reading this, I’m either dead or in custody.’
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I → read → custody
Officers look for evidence following the attack on May 11 this year
The defendant, who is now 16, continued: ‘My resentment for myself and others has only grown throughout my existence.
uncertain
resentment → look → existence
I thought it got better.
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it → think → ?
I tried to make it better.
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it → try → ?
‘But I see it in people's eyes.
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I → see → eyes
My reflection is what fuels their hatred.
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what → fuel → hatred
Ever since the failure of a relationship, my hatred for women has fuelled.
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hatred → fuel → women
‘A girl I've never met before said something degrading to me the other day.
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I → meet → me
I wanted to cut that ugly bitch's throat.
asserted
I → want → throat
‘They're nothing but fools that know nothing about life or feelings.
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that → know → life
I just have good judgement.’
asserted
I → have → judgement
School CCTV footage played in court during the trial showed the defendant approach his 15-year-old victim on May 11 and strike her in the left of her back near her shoulder blade with the knife.
uncertain
defendant → play → knife
He then ran away, pursued by the brave teacher, leaving behind a glove.
asserted
He → run → glove
The victim, also aged 15, was treated at hospital for an injury to her shoulder but was discharged the following day
When he was arrested by police shortly afterwards, his backpack is said to have contained the other glove, the mask and a black woollen hat.
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backpack → age → glove
He directed officers to the knife he used.
asserted
he → direct → knife
His victim escaped with minor injuries by 'sheer luck', prosecutor Chris Paxton KC said, and was released from hospital the following day.
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prosecutor → escape → hospital
In a recorded interview, she described how she thought he had punched her at first and began walking away, only starting to sprint when a teacher ‘screamed’ at her.
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teacher → record → her
Giving evidence in court, she added she didn't know her attacker and had never even seen him before.
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she → give → him
The trial heard the defendant had a kitchen knife from home in November last year and later went to his mother to confess he was ‘feeling down and had intended to hurt himself but he chickened out’.
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he → hear → himself
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
