Teacher Attacked Inside Empty Classroom
A 16 year old student has been found not guilty of attempting to murder his history teacher after a knife attack at Milford Haven Comprehensive School in Pembrokeshire.
The jury cleared the teenager of attempted murder. However, it found him guilty of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding. He had already admitted bringing a kitchen knife onto school grounds. The court will sentence him on 3 September.
The incident happened on 5 February after the student approached history teacher Vicki Williams and asked for help with his schoolwork. She agreed to assist him and entered an empty classroom.
Attack Happened During a History Lesson Discussion
According to the evidence presented in court, the student closed the classroom door before reaching into his school bag. Moments later, he pulled out a kitchen knife and lunged toward the teacher.
Williams reacted quickly by grabbing the knife and pushing the student away with her legs while shouting for help. She suffered injuries to her head, back, and hands during the struggle.
The teacher later told the court she believed she would not survive the attack. She described the student’s expression as one of “pure hatred” and said the assault came without warning.
Teacher Became Suspicious Before the Assault
Williams explained that the student appeared calm when he asked her to check his history work. She found his behavior unusual because he had never shown much interest in the subject before.
Her concern increased after he closed the classroom door and continued searching through his bag. She asked whether he was alright, but seconds later he pulled out the knife and attacked.
Student Claimed the Injuries Were Accidental
During the trial, the teenager claimed the teacher noticed the knife first and tried to take it away. He argued that the injuries happened accidentally during the struggle.
The prosecution challenged that account with witness statements and other evidence presented before the jury.
CCTV Captured Student Leaving the School
After the attack, a fellow staff member rushed to help after hearing Williams’ desperate screams.
Security cameras recorded the student running away from the school shortly after the incident. Police later arrested him at his grandmother’s home.
His grandmother told the court that he appeared distressed and said “something went” in his head. She recalled that he was crying with his head in his hands.
Student Explained Why He Brought the Knife
The teenager told jurors he had taken the knife to school as part of a game with friends. According to his evidence, the group challenged each other to bring unusual household items to school to see what they could get away with.
He also admitted choosing the largest knife from the kitchen because he believed it would impress his friends.
The jury rejected the attempted murder charge but convicted him of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding. The court is expected to hand down his sentence on 3 September.
