Teacher 'stabbed in head by pupil' relives moment daily, court hears

The 16-year-old defendant, who was 15 at the time, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, unlawful wounding, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The court heard that the student approached Ms. Williams' desk to check his work, then shut the classroom door, stating it was cold, which raised her suspicion.

Prosecutors allege the student then pulled a large kitchen knife from his bag and struck Ms. Williams in the head. A violent struggle ensued, during which Ms. Williams attempted to take the knife before the student ran from the school. The prosecution stated the attack was sustained and would have been fatal had Ms. Williams not disarmed him.

During cross-examination, the defense barrister suggested that Ms. Williams sustained her injuries during a scuffle when she tried to confiscate the knife. He proposed that the teacher instinctively grabbed the blade with both hands after the student refused to hand it over. However, Ms. Williams vehemently denied this, stating that the attack was unprovoked until the knife was produced and that her injuries were not accidental.

When questioned why she did not lock herself in the classroom after the boy left, Ms. Williams explained she was in shock and feared she was dying, prioritizing seeking medical help. She agreed the boy had been polite and respectful upon entering the room, emphasizing that the incident came out of nowhere until the knife appeared.