The trial of the intruder who broke into Hall Garth, killing 12-year-old Nikki Conroy and injuring two others, has rekindled nightmares for the pupils and staff of the Middlesbrough school.
Twenty months later, children still need counselling and some who have braved it out so far now need help. The fatal stabbing of London head Philip Lawrence has added to the charged atmosphere. Peter Smith, head of Hall Garth, has taken time off from his own worries to write to the staff and pupils of St George’s.
He said: “For the most part you have to get thorough something like this on your own. I sent a note to St George’s saying that something like this will test the strength and spirit of your school as it did ours. People were very supportive of each other in a way that I didn’t even dare hope, but professional, specialist help is still needed. We’re now 20 months on, but the counselling process has continued and some children have only now, for the first time, taken it.”
Leeds Crown Court heard this week that Nikki died almost instantly after suffering at least 10 stab wounds. Michelle Reeve, 13, and Emma Winter, 12, were also wounded. Stephen Wilkinson, 31, a former pupil, denied murder, but admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.
