Teacher Fiona Elias speaks after pupil that attacked her is found guilty

Tindle News

A 14-year-old girl has been found guilty of attempting to murder two teachers and a pupil following an incident at a school in Carmarthenshire. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been found guilty of the three charges following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.  She had previously admitted to three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a bladed article on a school premises. She now awaits sentencing. Emergency services were called to Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire on Wednesday, April 24, following reports that three people had been injured.  Two teachers – Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin – along with a child, were admitted to hospital for treatment having been stabbed.  CCTV cameras captured the girl walking through the school on the Wednesday morning, before stabbing the floor in the hall with a knife.  She was then seen speaking to Mrs Elias on two occasions – inside and outside the school building – before attacking her with a knife. When Mrs Hopkin stepped in to help, she was also injured.

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00:00No member of school staff should ever feel fearful for their own safety, merely

00:05for carrying out their duties. From here on I would like to invite the local

00:09authority and the Welsh Assembly Government to meet with me as I want to

00:13ensure that no member of staff goes through what Liz and I went through on

00:17the 24th of April last year. Verbal and physical violence towards staff members

00:22is totally unacceptable and we must ensure that there is no repeat of this

00:27incident elsewhere. This verdict today should be seen as a clear message for

00:33pupils across the country. I would not want any other individual to go through

00:38the nightmare that I have endured during the last nine months. For any other

00:43individual who has been through such an experience you will know that the

00:48nightmare and trauma experienced will not end today with a guilty verdict. I

00:53would like to thank my family and friends who have supported me through

00:57such a difficult time and of course the fantastic community at Ysgol Dduffryn Aman.

01:02My colleagues, pupils past and present, parents and the wider community who

01:09have all been affected by the incident in April. And lastly, thank you to Liz.

01:14Without her bravery I may not be standing here today. Liz, the word thank

01:21you doesn't seem enough. Diolch mewn.

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