Leeds teen pleads guilty to murder after stabbing rival five times in pre-planned fight
Kayla Smith, 18, changed her plea to guilty on the second day of her trial at Leeds Crown Court. Chloe Watson Dransfield, 16, was stabbed five times in the neck and back and died in hospital.
Leeds teenager admits murdering rival stabbed five times in neck and back
Kayla Smith, 18, pleaded guilty to murder on the second day of her trial at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday, the Evening Standard reports. She had previously admitted manslaughter but denied the more serious charge until Thursday's hearing.
The victim, Chloe Watson Dransfield, 16, was stabbed five times in the neck and back during a pre-planned street confrontation in the Austhorpe area of Leeds in the early hours of 28 March. She was taken to hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead at 6.40am.
At the centre of the dispute was Blake Dowling, 18, who had been in an "on-off" relationship with both girls. Dowling's mother told the court that Smith was "jealous and obsessed" over her son's relationship with Chloe. The two girls had argued repeatedly over him.
On the night of the killing, Chloe was at Dowling's mother's house when Smith found out and the pair argued by phone, agreeing to fight. In the hours that followed, Smith repeatedly threatened to stab Chloe. A friend of Chloe's who was on FaceTime with her that night told the court she heard Smith screaming down the phone: "Blake, I'm gonna smash your head in… you better not be with no girls… Chloe better not be there." When Chloe confirmed she was present, the witness heard Smith say: "I'm gonna stab you in your throat."
Dowling booked a taxi to bring Chloe to Smith's home — a summer house in her grandfather's garden where she lived. CCTV and Ring doorbell footage shown to jurors captured Smith emerging from the summer house holding a knife. She was heard shouting: "Come on big girl," before running back inside with co-defendant Archie Rycroft, 20, after the stabbing.
Footage recorded at 5.12am — approximately one minute after the attack — shows Smith and Rycroft alongside a man identified as Geoff Smith outside the summer house. Geoff Smith is heard saying "I'm ringing the police," to which Smith replies: "You can't ring the police, she's dead." An ambulance was not called until 37 minutes after the stabbing. A neighbour witnessed Geoff Smith performing CPR on Chloe on the footpath.
The trial continues for Dowling and Rycroft, who both deny murder and manslaughter. Rycroft is additionally accused of filming the attack on his phone. When police arrested Smith and Rycroft, the pair were described by prosecutor Mr McKone as "laughing and joking" with friends and using nitrous oxide in front of officers.
Dowling has told the court he did not know Chloe would be caused really serious harm. Rycroft has said he followed Smith out of curiosity and did not see that she was carrying a knife.
Mr Justice Cavanagh KC said he would sentence Smith once the trial of the two co-defendants had concluded. He warned her that the only available sentence for murder was life imprisonment, adding that he would be required to set a minimum term she must serve in custody.
Source: Evening Standard