Teen found guilty of attempted murder after stabbing girl 10 times with samurai-style weapon

A 15-year-old boy has been convicted of attempted murder after a brutal sword attack on a young girl during what should have been a fun Halloween camping trip. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, repeatedly stabbed his 14-year-old victim with a Kortada sword, similar in shape and size to a Samurai weapon.

The attack took place on 1 November last year in a wooded area near the A63 in Hull, where a group of seven teenagers had gathered for a camping trip. The jury at Hull Crown Court unanimously delivered a guilty verdict on Wednesday after deliberating overnight.

Prosecutors detailed how the perpetrator inflicted ten severe stab wounds to the girl’s chest, back, neck, and arms in what was described as a calculated attack. According to court testimony, before commencing the assault, the boy chillingly told his victim: “I’m sorry but I have to do this.”

“As a result of those injuries, that young girl came very close to losing her life,” said prosecutor David Lamb KC during the trial.

The court heard that after pinning the girl to the ground and repeatedly stabbing her with the “fearsome” weapon, the boy left her “alone, frightened and bleeding heavily” in the secluded and dark wooded area adjacent to the A63 and the Humber Bridge.

In a desperate bid to survive, the critically injured girl managed to scramble from the woods and flagged down passing motorists on the A63 in the early hours of the morning. She was initially rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary before being transferred to a specialist hospital in Leeds due to the severity of her wounds.

A witness described the victim as “lucky to have survived” given the nature and extent of her injuries.

The teenager initially provided conflicting accounts to police but eventually admitted responsibility for the attack. During the trial, it emerged that he claimed to have been paid £20 by another girl, now 16, to carry out the assault following an argument earlier that evening between the two girls.

Further evidence revealed the boy was trying to impress the older girl because he “fancied” her. The sword used in the attack reportedly belonged to the older girl’s father and had been brought along because she intended to sell it.

“He accepts that it was him and only him who attacked her,” Mr Lamb told the court. “He accepts that he stabbed her with the sword. He accepts that, in doing so, he inflicted those injuries. He accepts that he was not acting in self-defence. He accepts that, when he attacked her with the sword, he intended to cause her really serious harm.”

Judge John Thackray KC thanked the jury for their service and postponed sentencing until 4 April. He informed the defendant that he needed to better understand him and assess the risk he posed to the public upon eventual release.

The judge has requested both psychological and pre-sentence reports, as well as noting a reference provided by the teenager’s grandmother. He urged the young offender to cooperate fully with the Youth Justice Team in the preparation of these assessment documents.

Defence barrister David Godfrey confirmed he would assist in the preparation of the reports ahead of next month’s sentencing hearing.

Police cordoned off the woodland area off Ferriby High Road and the A63 following the incident while forensic teams conducted their investigation. The case has shocked the local community with its brutality and the young age of those involved.