Ann Maguire stabbing: Teenage boy admits responsibility for killing teacher

The boy appeared in court charged with murdering the teacher at school

Friday 11 July 2014 16:00 BST

Ann Maguire was killed in her classroom in April (West Yorkshire Police/PA Wire)

A teenage boy has admitted stabbing Ann Maguire to death in a classroom in Leeds.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of murdering the 61-year-old teacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College in April.

He spoke only twice while appearing via video link at Leeds Crown Court on Friday.

Although a plea was not entered, his lawyer, Richard Wright QC, said he “has accepted responsibility for the unlawful killing of the deceased".

He added: “The issue in the case will be whether or not a partial defence is available to him.”

The admission does not amount to a guilty plea because diminished responsibility would mean that the crime committed was manslaughter, rather than murder.

The court heard that psychiatric reports would be prepared before the trial, scheduled in November.

The teenager, wearing an orange t-shirt and blue trousers, appeared on two video screens in the packed courtroom.

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

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1/18In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

Steve Mort, head teacher of Corpus Christi Catholic College, reads the hundreds of tributes left in honour of slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

Keiran Sykes, the deputy headteacher of Corpus Christi Catholic College, reads the hundreds of tributes left in honour of slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

Amanda Gledhill, a former pupil of Corpus Christi Catholic College, grieves next to the hundreds of tributes left in honour of slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A photograph and flowers hang on the fence outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in tribute to slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A candle burns next to a book of condolence for teacher Ann Maguire at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Neville Road in Leeds

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A crucifix and school tie hang on the fence outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in tribute to slain teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A drawing outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Anne Maguire was stabbed to death in front of her pupils

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

Monsignor Paul Fisher conducts a mass for members of the local community attending Corpus Christ Catholic Church to pray and pay their respects to teacher Ann Maguire in Leeds.

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

Flowers are left outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was stabbed to death yesterday in front of her pupils.

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A note left outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was stabbed to death yesterday in front of her pupils.

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

Flowers are left outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was stabbed to death yesterday in front of her pupils.

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A nun comforts students outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Neville Road, Leeds, where a female teacher was fatally stabbed

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In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A school football shirt, signed by pupils, hangs on the gate

Reuters

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

School head teacher Steve Moat, and the school's head boy and head girl lay flowers in Corpus Christ Catholic Church

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In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

Messages and floral tributes including a photograph of Ann Maguire

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A nun comforts people outside Corpus Christi Catholic College

PA

In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

A pupil looks at floral tributes at Corpus Christi Catholic College

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In pictures: Leeds school mourns Ann Maguire's death

School mourns teacher's death

Monsignor Paul Fisher conducts mass for members of the local community

PA

He spoke to confirm his name and confirm he understood what was happing during the 10 minute hearing.

The teenager was remanded in custody until the next hearing on 26 September.

Members of Mrs Maguire's family watched the proceedings from the public gallery.

The judge and lawyers for the prosecution asked the public to be extremely careful about using social media to discuss the case, stressing there could be heavy penalties for naming the defendant or giving other details before the trial.

Mrs Maguire's death was the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom and the first killing of a teacher in a school since the 1996 Dunblane massacre.

She started at Corpus Christi as a student teacher and was planning to retire after more than 40 years of service.

The teacher was head of Year 11 at the school for more than 10 years and lived in the Moortown area of Leeds with her husband, Don.

Additional reporting by PA