Katie Rough: 15-year-old girl appears in court charged with murdering seven-year-old

Teenager, also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, remains silent throughout eight-minute hearing

Katie Rough, aged seven, was killed in January 2017 (North Yorkshire Police)

A 15-year-old girl has been remanded in secure accommodation after appearing in court charged with murdering seven-year-old Katie Rough.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, stood in the centre of the glass-fronted dock and said nothing during the eight-minute hearing.

Flanked by two security guards and a youth offending team manager at York Magistrates' Court, she stared straight forward as her solicitor answered questions about her name and address.

A note reading 'Night, night my darling princess', signed off by Katie's grandparents, who are pictured arriving at court, was left at the scene Danny Lawson/PA (Danny Lawson/PA)

The girl, who was wearing an oversized grey sweatshirt and had long brown hair, will appear before Leeds Crown Court for a second preliminary hearing on Friday.

She is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knife.

Katie, described as a "kind and thoughtful child", was found on a track, reportedly with neck injuries, close to a play area in the Woodthorpe area of York shortly before 5pm on Monday.

She was rushed to hospital but died a short time later.

Press Association