BBC News
A 14-year-old girl who stabbed two teachers and a pupil while screaming “I’m going to kill you” has been sentenced to 15 years in detention.
The girl, who cannot be named due to her age, will serve at least half the sentence in custody.
She was found guilty of attempted murder in a second trial at Swansea Crown Court in February after the first collapsed.
Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil were treated in hospital with stab wounds after the attack at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Carmarthenshire, last April.
The teenager, who brought a weapon to school every day, used her father’s multi-tool knife to initially attack Ms Elias on 24 April 2024.
Judge Paul Thomas, sentencing, said the girl had not shown remorse and had attacked the three for attention.
The jury heard she repeatedly stabbed Ms Elias saying “I’m going to kill you” and the teacher suffered wounds to both arms.
Fellow pupils said the defendant previously told them she would stab Ms Elias and “do something stupid” that would get her expelled.
Ms Hopkin intervened during the incident to try and restrain the girl and was also stabbed, receiving injuries to her neck, back, legs and arms, the court heard.
After a “stand off”, the girl then ran at a 14-year-old pupil with the knife and shouted “I’m going to kill you” before stabbing her, causing a wound to the upper arm.
She was restrained by teacher Darrel Campbell until she was later arrested.
During the hearing, Ms Elias started reading her victim impact statement in tears and said she would never forget the moment she saw the tip of the blade.
“The image is etched in my mind,” she said, “it’s a moment that replays itself over and over”.
“The scars on my arms are a daily reminder of the pain I endured. She tried to murder me.”
Ms Elias said she has received counselling to “stop the spirals” before they “consume” her.
She said her daughter found out about her involvement in the incident on social media when a photo was shared of Ms Hopkin on a stretcher with the caption ‘RIP Mrs Elias’.
“Those three words have haunted her ever since,” she said.
Ms Elias addressed the teenager in court and said: “Your motive was clear, you tried to murder me.
“Thankfully, thanks to Liz’s selfless actions, you didn’t manage to finish what you started.
“You have put me, my family and the entire school though hell.”
Ms Elias said she had not ruled out meeting with the teenager in future, and will use her experience to campaign for teachers’ safety.
She finished her statement with the words her husband wrote in a card following the incident.
“I always knew that you give your time to the school, give your heart to the school, but I never expected you to give your blood,” Ms Elias said.
“I will always give my heart to Ysgol Dyffryn Aman,” she added.
