A 13-year-old girl facing allegations of killing a woman testified that she had been hearing voices urging her to harm others in the months leading up to the incident. The defendant, whose identity is protected due to her age, is charged with fatally stabbing 43-year-old Marta Bednarczyk. While admitting to unlawfully causing the victim’s death, she denies the charge of murder, citing diminished responsibility.
During her testimony in Lincoln Crown Court, the teenager admitted to searching online for information on teenage murders out of curiosity. She explained that her interest in websites depicting death and executions stemmed from mere curiosity rather than malicious intent. The girl revealed that her curiosity about death-related topics was driven by a lack of friends and the distress caused by persistent voices in her head urging her to harm others.
The court learned that shortly before the alleged murder, the girl sent herself a message expressing a desire to die, indicating a state of emotional turmoil. Prosecutors claim that the teenager conducted online research before the killing, suggesting premeditation. The prosecution argues that the girl had planned the killing for weeks, as evidenced by messages she sent to friends indicating her absence from school and hinting at escaping punishment.
According to the prosecution, the motive behind the killing remains unclear, with mental health being ruled out as a significant factor. Following the tragic event, Marta Bednarczyk’s family described her as a caring and loving individual who moved to the UK to provide for her loved ones. The family expressed profound grief over her untimely death and extended gratitude to the authorities for their support.
The trial is ongoing.