Schoolboy laughed as he stabbed pupil in the back, court told

Published on Thursday 14 May 2009 22:04

A SCHOOLBOY nearly died when a laughing fellow pupil plunged a kitchen knife into his back in an unprovoked classroom attack, a court heard yesterday.

The stabbing was witnessed by other pupils at the Ayrshire secondary school.

A teacher, who had left the classroom for a few minutes, rushed back in with a colleague and prevented further harm.

The 14-year-old attacker – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – muttered "beautiful thing" then asked: "Who wants it next?"

"The other pupils, fearing for their safety, gathered at the end of the room. The accused was continually laughing and smiling," advocate depute Alex Prentice, QC, prosecuting, told the High Court in Edinburgh.

The boy then told his teacher: "I feel so much better. I've never felt better."

A shocked judge was told that the victim, also 14 – who cannot be identified – was taken to Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, where doctors found his lung had collapsed and he had nearly a litre of blood in his chest.

"At this critical time his life was in danger," said Mr Prentice.

The attacker, who has no previous convictions, admitted assault to the danger of life.

Judge Lord Brailsford called for background reports before the boy returned to court next month to face sentence.

"This is obviously a very disturbing matter," said the judge.

The court heard that the attacker stole the knife, which had a 5in blade, from his grandmother's kitchen.

When he arrived at school on Monday, 2 March, he told a friend: "I've got something in my bag. I'll show you it later on."

During the first lesson of the day the teacher made sure the pupils had work to do then left the room for a few minutes.

The attacker unzipped his bag and produced the knife.

Mr Prentice described how the boy was acting strangely and talking in a strange voice. As another pupil ran to fetch the teacher he stabbed his victim in the back.

Then the boy stood up and he made a slashing motion at his chest. The two grappled and the attacker was pushed on to a nearby table.

"The accused was laughing," said Mr Prentice.

The attacker later told police he had not specifically targeted his victim and that he could have stabbed anyone.

He also told the police he had been angry for some time. "He stated that he felt he had to stab someone and maybe this would make him feel better," said Mr Prentice.

The boy was remanded in custody pending sentence.