Girl, 15, accused of slitting throat of tragic Katie Rough then calling cops to say she was dead ‘had mental health problems’
MURDERED seven-year-old Katie Rough was attacked with a Stanley knife, it emerged yesterday.
The killer allegedly slit the schoolgirl’s throat and knifed her in the chest before calling 999 to say: “She’s dead.”
A 15-year-old girl appeared in court yesterday accused of murdering Katie on Monday.
It is understood the teenager was being treated for mental problems.
Katie’s grieving family sat in court as the pale-faced defendant appeared for the first time.
She stood in silence inside a glass-panelled dock at York magistrates’ court.
Her solicitor, Colin Byrne, confirmed her name, address and date of birth.
The slight teen, who was wearing an over-sized grey jumper, showed no emotion and stared ahead as the court clerk read out the charges.
Katie’s family wiped away tears throughout the hearing.
Her aunt and uncle, Sarah Nockels and Steve Rough, were joined by Katie’s brother Jack and her grandparents, Steven and Sharon Rough.
The accused is believed to have called police at 4.37pm on Monday to say that Katie was dead and lying in a field.
Officers used mobile phone technology to locate the caller.
They then frantically launched a search for Katie. Thirteen minutes later Katie’s mum, Alison, 38 — unaware of the unfolding drama — rang police to report her missing.
She said she had not seen Katie for 45 minutes, it is understood.
Officers found Katie unconscious in a playing field in York.
She had suffered “significant lacerations” to her neck and chest.
Her alleged killer was taken in by a couple — while just feet away, paramedics performed CPR in an attempt to save Katie. It is believed there are potential mental health problems with the defendant, and she had been under the care of mental health teams.
The girl, flanked by two security guards and accompanied by a senior youth offending team manager, stood once more.
She stared up at the ceiling as magistrates told her she would be reappearing before Leeds crown court on Friday.
The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, faces a second charge of possession of a knife.
Magistrate Brian Wood remanded her into youth custody.
Victim Katie Rough's family watched from the public gallery, appearing solemn as they left the courtroom.
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.
Katie's devastated family thanked well-wishers who have donated more than £14,000 to help support them after the horrifying tragedy.
One member wrote: "Just wanted to once again say thanku to every1 who has donated the generosity of strangers is over whelming on behalf of my sister and the rest of the family thanku x.”
Another said: “Just wanted to say on behalf of me and my family it hugely appreciated and we can not thank all enough for being so kind and supporting towards up! And a huge thank you to maggie jackson for starting this amazing idea."
Yesterday, Katie's grandparents left a heart-wrenching note among floral tributes, saying: "Night night my darling Princess Katie love nana and grandad xx".
Neighbour 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'."
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 through Go Fund Me.
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."
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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."
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."