Teacher stabbed to death at Leeds school

[yorkie]

Teacher stabbed to death at school

A teacher has been stabbed to death in front of pupils inside a school in Leeds.

Spanish teacher Anne Maguire, 61, was taken to hospital following the attack but later pronounced dead.

A 15-year-old boy was detained by teaching staff at Corpus Christi Catholic College and later arrested.

Shocking. Such a nice lady too. She had taught at the school for around 40 years. It's highly likely that I will know someone who knew her.

It's well-known who the 15-year-old is (though obviously that can't be published), and is from a village where I was at just last week, a very nice village outside Leeds. He came from a good family. That just makes it all the more shocking. His family must be going through hell. Some people have been making nasty comments towards his Father on Farcebook - to me, that's totally unacceptable as I can't begin to imagine how devastated his family must be too. There are no winners, only losers in this.

People like Anne Maguire, who choose to do a job that is at times incredibly difficult (and for many of us would be impossible), underpaid and arguably often undervalued, are true unsung heroes in our Society. People like her devote their lives to helping others, and deserve the utmost respect. RIP.

 

[balne-wonderer]

A fantastic woman. I was at Corpus between 96 and 01. It's not a great area up there but the school was very good.

Could not believe the news, I live down the road in Swarcliffe now but everyone round here is shocked too.

 

[user15681]

I just can't get it out of my head that anyone can say goodbye to their family, go for a normal day at work and not return. The circumstances are even worse, in an environment which the teachers make safe for the pupils and devote their time to help them, for her to be killed like that is hard to come to terms with. Very sad.

 

[34D]

RIP indeed

 

[yorkie]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukn...tody-after-Anne-Maguire-stabbed-to-death.html

Jacob, who was in another lesson when he heard screams, said of the accused boy: “He is really clever and always got top grades.”

The boy in custody comes from a middle-class family in the Halton area of Leeds. His mother is a human resources director and his father is a civil servant. He has a 19-year-old brother.

Neighbours said that after his parents split some time ago, the boy would rarely speak to anyone outside his immediate family.

He was predicted to gain good grades in his GCSEs and excelled particularly in art.

One neighbour said: “He was very quiet and a bit of a dweeb, but never caused any trouble. This is the last thing you would ever have expected from him.”

Police were piecing together the boy’s background, including a Facebook page with a prominent image of the grim reaper.

They've said various stuff I wasn't going to say, such as the grim reaper image on his Facebook page. It's bizarre - you can almost reveal who it is, and it's incredibly easy to find out who it is - yet you're not allowed to say who he is.

His Father's Facebook account disappeared very quickly, but the boy's account still remains. I think it would be against the law to link to it though as that would count as 'naming' him.

Other reports said he had told people he was planning such an act for a while - of course, no-one would have believed he actually meant it.

I suspect he must have had some sort of mental illness to do such a thing. There is surely no other explanation.

Absolutely shocking.

 

[Gathursty]

As a trainee teacher, I'm shocked and offer condolences. I found out from a colleague at the end of the day. Just awful.

 

[All Line Rover]

What an awful tragedy. Thankfully these incidents are very rare, and at least no pupils were affected (unlike certain incidents in the US), but there is a persistent problem with the possession of unlawful weapons in inner-city UK secondary schools. I wonder if this boy was found in possession of an unlawful weapon before? Perhaps not.

Revealing his identity won't benefit anyone. It would only incite a witch-hunt against his family who, as you say, are going through a difficult enough time already.

 

[Bayum]

It's disgusting and deeply shocking.

I really feel for everyone at Corpus Christi today.


Unfortunately, however, the public's image has been for a few years now 'behaviour management is easy, teachers have never had it this good, it's their own fault that students misbehave and can't control the class'. Unfortunately, in today's extremely rare and isolated case, (but nonetheless there are instances of violence against teachers most days), no-one was to know this could have happened. That is the job of teaching. Each day is completely different to the last. So for it to end like it has done for this community is heartbreaking.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This was indeed a very sad story to read and I am sure that the boy in question must have had serious personal emotional issues that he was unable to cope with.

Today, the 15 year-old boy was formally charged with murder and will appear in a court tomorrow.

 

[Kite159]

RIP to the teacher

 

[transportphoto]

The CPS reports that the 15 year old male arrested in connection with the murder of 61 year old teacher Ann Maguire of Corpus Christi Catholic College, has now been charged with her murder.

As usual, this is after it has been deemed to be in the public interest and that there is sufficient evidence for this to take place, the youth is due to appear in Leeds Magistrate Court tomorrow and in Leeds Crown Court on Friday for a Bail Hearing.

Thoughts remain with the family, friends, colleagues and students of Mrs Maguire, and also the innocent family of the juvenile who must now be going through hell.

Additional detail: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27231425

TP

 

[bb21]

If as alleged, the boy came from a broken family, questions must be asked as to how much attention was paid by his guardians regarding his emotional and psychological wellbeings.

I am not apportioning blame, but it is a serious issue that is often neglected.

 

[Whistler40145]

RIP to the Teacher.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I strongly suspect there will be an underlying mental health problem here.

RIP to the teacher, and my thoughts are with her family, the family of the boy in class, and those who had to witness the crime. I can't imagine what it's like to witness something like that. I've seen the aftermath of a stabbing, but not one in progress and I'd rather like it to stay that way.

 

[fowler9]

I am yet again disappointed that the press have conflated suffering from depression and being a metalhead with being a weird loner and a killer.

 

[Class172]

I was shocked to hear of this story the other day - more so when it was reported to have happened in front of a class of pupils. To commit such an act with audacity in my opinion can only be attributed to some form of mental condition.

My condolences to the family, school and others affected in the events that have unfolded this week.

 

[Starmill]

One of my flatmates had applied to do some sort of placement thing there next year!

Even while we've no idea what happened the thought of the story makes me shiver - and I get the feeling that the only further details that emerge will make it even more ghastly. I noted the extended tributes in PMQs this afternoon.

My thoughts and sympathies go out to the whole community.

 

[43074]

My thoughts go to all involved and those affected by it. RIP to the teacher.


I also think it's wrong to be attributing blame with regards to why it happened; especially considering we know so little detail about the accused, the cause and the incident itself.

 

[yorkie]

If as alleged, the boy came from a broken family, questions must be asked as to how much attention was paid by his guardians regarding his emotional and psychological wellbeings.

They've had a lot of abuse on social media, that's for sure. His father has deleted his Twitter, Facebook and photoboxgallery sites. His Flickr site hasnt (yet) gone. I believe he came from a good family. Yes the parents were separated but that's not unusual. I do not agree with the witch hunt of the parents, and people also saying things about his brother. For their sake, they need to move out of the area because the family are being blamed for the actions of the accused.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

...and in Leeds Crown Court on Friday for a Bail Hearing. ...

I suspect he's safer not being bailed, and if he is bailed he needs to go a long way from the area, based on comments on social media, as he and his family would not be at all safe.

 

[bb21]

They've had a lot of abuse on social media, that's for sure. His father has deleted his Twitter, Facebook and photoboxgallery sites. His Flickr site hasnt (yet) gone. I believe he came from a good family. Yes the parents were separated but that's not unusual. I do not agree with the witch hunt of the parents, and people also saying things about his brother. For their sake, they need to move out of the area because the family are being blamed for the actions of the accused.

A witch-hunt is not the right way to go. I am not condoning this at all. The reason I believe those issues need to be thoroughly investigated is so that the cause of this tragic incident could be better understood, and how steps can be taken to try and prevent the same thing happening again. Unfortunately the guardians would be in the spotlight. We cannot avoid this.

People who just throw abuse at the family should look at themselves long and hard, and be ashamed of their actions. They are as much a victim in this incident as the teacher. I don't believe for a moment that his father encouraged him to kill the teacher.

Unfortunately mob mentality is rife in our society. I wonder what the gutter press would be spouting next. :roll:

 

[talltim]

His name is easily findable on Twitter. What is the law on naming minors accused of crimes? Can it have any weight before they are arrested? What would happen if someone present tweeted 'OMG, **** **** is stabbing Mrs Maguire'

 

[Starmill]

His name is easily findable on Twitter. What is the law on naming minors accused of crimes? Can it have any weight before they are arrested? What would happen if someone present tweeted 'OMG, **** **** is stabbing Mrs Maguire'

I'm reminded of the (super)injunction case a few years back in which Mr John Hemming MP had something interesting to say in the House of Commons about Twitter.

I admit I'm curious as to exactly what prevents this boy from being named, not that I question the reason for it. The CPS said it all really:

This defendant now stands charged with an extremely serious criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.

 

[Geezertronic]

I admit I'm curious as to exactly what prevents this boy from being named, not that I question the reason for it.

I was under the impression that they don't usually name offenders under 16 years of age unless it's in the publics interest?

 

[Starmill]

I was under the impression that they don't usually name offenders under 16 years of age unless it's in the publics interest?

Yeah probably I did wonder if it was just that but I can't profess to know much on the issue!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It appears that tomorrow, the youth will be linked by video to the court whilst being held in a secure place.

 

[meridian2]

A witch-hunt is not the right way to go. I am not condoning this at all. The reason I believe those issues need to be thoroughly investigated is so that the cause of this tragic incident could be better understood, and how steps can be taken to try and prevent the same thing happening again. Unfortunately the guardians would be in the spotlight. We cannot avoid this.
:

Whilst I agree with the principles of doing such a thing, I would have to ask: would it be really necessary and would it really be beneficial in the long-term when those people, like the police, are insisting this is an 'isolated incident'?
The last thing we need is the police and social services looking at EVERY family in EVERY corner of this country trying to anticipate a problem.

 

[bb21]

Whilst I agree with the principles of doing such a thing, I would have to ask: would it be really necessary and would it really be beneficial in the long-term when those people, like the police, are insisting this is an 'isolated incident'?
The last thing we need is the police and social services looking at EVERY family in EVERY corner of this country trying to anticipate a problem.

But the thing is that we do have a problem here. It may be an isolated incident, yet there are underlying reasons as to why the boy was driven to the point of killing the teacher. That is not normal behaviour.

There is no guarantee that we will learn anything by looking into this case further, however we will never learn without investigating contributing factors.

I am not saying we need to stick our noses in every family's private affairs, but should certain needs be identified which are not currently catered for by studying this case closely, it would allow services to be provided to cater for them, for example. It might just help prevent further similar occurrences.

 

[meridian2]

But the thing is that we do have a problem here. It may be an isolated incident, yet there are underlying reasons as to why the boy was driven to the point of killing the teacher. That is not normal behaviour.

There is no guarantee that we will learn anything by looking into this case further, however we will never learn without investigating contributing factors.

I am not saying we need to stick our noses in every family's private affairs, but should certain needs be identified which are not currently catered for by studying this case closely, it would allow services to be provided to cater for them, for example. It might just help prevent further similar occurrences.

I guess my point is, what's to be gained from this sort of analysis? You are looking for 'underlying reasons' which psychologists and forensic psychologists have been doing for centuries: the fundamental question: why do people kill?
There are so many variables at play here, given the age of the person and his possible 'broken family' background. and all the associated history with that etc.Too many for me to glean some sort of satisfactory reason for this type of 'abnormal' behaviour, so the only realistic thing anyone can do is to investigate, prosecute and close the case. That's a satisfactory outcome for me.
You're looking for the underlying reasons and that, to me, is far too big a task for anyone to come away and say. for absolute certain, 'I know what drives people to kill'. The problems will always be there, and their solutions will continue to evade both you and me.

 

[bb21]

We may never find the underlying reasons, or we may find contributory factors which may have played a part in this incident. We may not get 100% answers, but isn't that the same with almost everything to do with psychology?

Your point, which I appreciate, is that there is nothing to be gained by studying this case further. Mine is that there may be something that we can learn and discover. I think we will have to agree to disagree with each other.

 

[Bayum]

I guess my point is, what's to be gained from this sort of analysis? You are looking for 'underlying reasons' which psychologists and forensic psychologists have been doing for centuries: the fundamental question: why do people kill?
There are so many variables at play here, given the age of the person and his possible 'broken family' background. and all the associated history with that etc.Too many for me to glean some sort of satisfactory reason for this type of 'abnormal' behaviour, so the only realistic thing anyone can do is to investigate, prosecute and close the case. That's a satisfactory outcome for me.
You're looking for the underlying reasons and that, to me, is far too big a task for anyone to come away and say. for absolute certain, 'I know what drives people to kill'. The problems will always be there, and their solutions will continue to evade both you and me.

Believe it or not, after a couple hundred of years, psychologists and psychiatrists are actually pretty good at investigating and detailing possible variables into instances such as this.

When things happen on the railway or in life, is that to be scoffed at because as with anything not controlled in strict conditions, there will be many variables at play.