Girl, 15, is charged with murder after Katie Rough, seven, is found with throat slit two weeks after being bridesmaid at her mum’s wedding
A 15-year-old girl has been charged with the murder of a seven-year-old girl in York.
Little Katie Rough was found with her throat cut in a field behind a row of £350,000 homes in Woodthorpe, York on Monday.
Shocked residents earlier told how Katie's devastated mum Alison fell to her knees and screamed "no, no, my little girl" after the young girl was found, barely an hour and a half after she finished school for the day.
Police last night charged the 15-year-old with murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
The teen will appear before magistrates in York at 10am on Wednesday.
Yesterday, the girl's grandparents left a heart-wrenching note among floral tributes, saying: ";Night night my darling Princess Katie love nana and grandad xx".
The seven-year-old girl was a bridesmaid at her parents' wedding less than two weeks ago.
One neighbour, whose partner works at York District Hospital where Katie was taken to be treated before she died, said she understood the schoolgirl was allegedly 'stabbed twice'.
The woman, who didn't wish to be named, said: "My partner was told by the nurse that treated her that she was stabbed twice."
The mum, who said she didn't know the family personally, added: "It's really sad and not something you expect around here because it is a nice area."
Cops quizzed the 15-year-old girl while forensic officers were seen gathering evidence around the leafy estate where homes cost more than £350,000.
Rob McCartney, a consultant engineer, said he saw the young girl lying in the field near the quiet cul-de-sac and her mother running up the street "shouting for help".
"(The mother) was back and forth, obviously very, very distraught," he said.
"The dad arrived on the scene at that point and he and the mum were comforting each other.
"I spoke to her later, asked if she was OK and she said, 'No, no, she's my little girl'."
The 50-year-old told reporters he went to see what was happening after seeing “shadows” moving around outside.
“As I opened the door the girl’s mother was running into the street shouting ‘Get an ambulance’.
“I put on my shoes and went down the alley which runs along the side of my house and I could see a young girl lying on the playing field behind where we live.
“She was face down but on her side. I think I could see she was wearing boots.”
The attack happened just half a mile away from the family's home in Foxwood, York.
Last night, Katie's aunt Sarah Nockels said: "We are all absolutely devastated.
"We need to be given time to grieve."
A woman living nearby said she saw the girl's mother on her knees crying in the road.
The neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the family did not live in the street of six red-brick detached houses.
She said: "We've all been here a long time, there's no children in this street."
An elderly couple who left flowers at the scene simply replied "yes" when asked if they were OK.
Neighbour Denise Wright said Katie's death comes just weeks after her parents Alison and Paul tied the knot on December 28.
She said: "It is such a sad start to the year after they had a really happy end to 2016 with Alison and Paul getting married.
"Katie was well-liked on this estate as are her parents.
"A lot of kids are going to miss her."
Another neighbour said Katie was part of a "lovely family" with the community now working to raise funds for them.
Alison's ex-husband Craig Smith, of Scarborough, North Yorks, said: "Alison must be heartbroken.
"She was a wonderful mother and always put her kids first.
"She was an absolutely brilliant mother.
"I heard about Katie being born. I never met her but they seemed a lovely little family and really happy. This must have hit the kids hard as well. Alison brought them up to be really caring."
Katie was Alison and Paul's only child together.
Holiday park worker Paul Rough has two other children from a previous relationship while Alison, who was married before, has three older children.
A friend, who lives near the family, said young Katie was "lovely, really sweet";.
The 24-year-old said: "She was usually playing at the front in the garden or round the back of the house playing with some friends.
"She was lovely, really sweet, smiling, laughing, playing with her friends.
"She was really friendly, running around."
Police have since appealed for witnesses who were in the area of Morrell Court, Belhouse Way, Osprey Close and Alness Drive between 3pm and 5pm on Monday 9 January 2017, and may have seen two girls, one aged 15 years old and the other seven years old, to get in touch.
Speaking from Fulford Police Station in York, DCI Dave Ellis said police had been called to the site just after 4.30pm on Monday.
He said: "Officers attending found a seven-year-old girl with life threatening injuries.
"She was take to York District Hospital but sadly died a short time later."
He said: "Specially trained officers are supporting the victim's family as this is an extremely difficult time for them.
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"The circumstances require the investigation to be carried out in a sensitive manner."
A police spokesperson has since added: "Katie’s family are devastated by this tragic event and have asked for their privacy to be respected at this extremely distressing time."
A police cordon remained in place this morning with yellow police tape across the end of a footpath which ran down the side of one of the cul-de-sac's large detached new-build houses.
A white forensics test stood around 100 metres down the footpath.
The York North neighbourhood policing team shared a tweet about the tragedy, writing: "Difficult and tragic shift.
"Our thoughts and sympathy are with the parents and family involved as well as colleagues who did all they could."
North York City and East police also tweeted, saying: "Difficult late shift for all York staff with tragic death of a 7 year old.
"Thoughts go out to family members."
The community has since opened up The Parish Church of St James the Deacon for anyone affected by the tragedy.
Officers have remained at the scene to investigate the full circumstances of the girl's death.
The devastating news caused shockwaves to ripple through the quiet suburb and the wider city of York.
Katie's headteacher Tracey Ralph said: "Katie was a kind and thoughtful child who was well-liked by both pupils and staff.
"She was hardworking and showed a particular talent for creative writing.
"Her death is a terrible loss which has deeply saddened our school community and we send our profound sympathies to her family.
"All members of our school are being offered emotional support at this distressing time."
Jon Stonehouse, Director of Children, Education and Communities at City of York Council, said: "This tragic incident has shocked the city and the council on whose behalf I offer our profound condolences to Katie's family at this extremely difficult and sad time.
"Her death has hit all who knew her very hard and we are providing specialist support to the school, as well as offering support to the school and the wider community.
"Our neighbour enforcement officers are also giving additional support to the police and are offering reassurance locally in this, one of the UK's safer cities."
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