Katie Rough’s heartbroken grandparents arrive at court as, girl, 15, appears charged with murder after seven-year-old bridesmaid was found with throat slit two weeks after mum’s wedding
THE heartbroken family of tragic Katie Rough appeared at court today to see a 15-year-old girl charged with murdering their "princess".
The seven-year-old schoolgirl had been found with her throat cut in a field behind a row of £350,000 homes in Woodthorpe, York after school on Monday.
The 15-year-old, charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon, was this morning remanded in secure accommodation by York magistrates.
The family of little Katie, who had been a bridesmaid at her parents' wedding less than two weeks ago, arrived in court with drawn faces, keeping their heads down as they walked into the building.
The 15-year-old appeared in court, flanked by two security guards and a youth offending team manager, as she stood in the centre of the glass fronted dock.
Saying nothing, the teen, wearing an oversized grey sweatshirt, stared straight forward as her solicitor answered questions about her name and address.
She will now appear before Leeds Crown Court on Friday.
Shocked residents earlier told of the heart-wrenching scenes where devastated mum Alison fell to her knees, screaming "no, no my little girl".
The seven-year-old had been found barely an hour and a half after she finished school for the day, with her parents rushing to help her, screaming for an ambulance.
The young girl was stretchered from the scene but died shortly after arriving at hospital with the 15-year-old girl immediately taken into custody and questioned by police.
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".
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’.
The scenes left neighbours horrified with one, whose partner works at York District Hospital where Katie was taken to be treated before she died, saying 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."
“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."
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.
Christina Mercer, 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 on Tuesday, 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.
"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 was taped around the scene on Tuesday 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.