Boy's face showed 'pure hatred' as he attacked teacher with knife, court hears

A teenager with a face of "pure hatred" lunged at his teacher with a large kitchen knife and stabbed her in the head, a court has been told.

The boy, 16, followed Vicki Williams into a classroom at Milford Haven Comprehensive School in Pembrokeshire, after asking for her help with homework.

But Swansea Crown Court heard he attacked her and pushed her back into a chair. Williams kicked up her legs to defend herself and screamed for help.

As the attack was happening, Williams thought, "I hope that's not a knife because I'm dead", the court heard.

The teenager, who cannot be named, denies attempted murder, wounding with intent and unlawful wounding, but previously admitted possessing a knife.

Christopher Rees KC, prosecuting, said the boy had closed the door behind him – which was also shown on CCTV – and was holding on to his bag.

He searched through his bag while he asked his teacher about his work, before he "launched" at her, Rees said.

"She grabbed it, but he was trying to use it again," Rees said.

"He pushed her back into her chair. She had her legs up and she screamed for help."

Williams described the look on the boy's face as "pure hatred", adding she "had never seen anything like it".

The jury heard how she fought the boy off by holding his arm and the knife.

They then saw CCTV footage which showed him running out of the classroom about two minutes later, with Williams exiting the room with the knife in her hand.

A colleague, who had come to check what was happening, described Williams' screams as "gut-wrenching".

The police and emergency services were called and the school was placed in temporary lockdown and was closed the following day.

Williams suffered several injuries, including a 7cm (2.8 in) wound to her lower back, and was taken to Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.

The boy was later arrested at his grandmother's house.

Rees said the prosecution's case was that the incident was "a deliberate act to kill", while the defence would argue it was an accident.

The trial continues.