Katie Rough murder accused, 15, remains silent during five-minute court hearing over killing of seven-year-old in York

A TEEN accused of murdering a seven-year-old girl with a Stanley knife has stood silently in court as she faced a judge over the heartbreaking tragedy.

The 15-year-old was arrested after little Katie Rough was found in a field suffering lacerations to her chest and neck just minutes from her York home.

The teen appeared via video link at Leeds Crown Court this morning, not uttering a word during the five minute hearing.

The defendant, who appeared from a different room wearing a purple sweatshirt and black trousers, sat with a solicitor but did not make an application for bail.

Members of Katie's family attended the hearing and sat on the jury bench to listen to the proceedings.

The accused's solicitor confirmed her name, which cannot be published, during the brief appearance.

She stands charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon - a knife.

She was remanded into a youth detention accommodation and will appear before the same court for a pre-trial preparation hearing on February 16.

The teen appeared before magistrates in York earlier this week and said nothing as lawyers briefly summarised the circumstances around the incident.

Katie's grieving grandparents appeared in court for the brief hearing, having placed a floral tribute to their "princess" just hours after the seven-year-old was found.

Little Katie, who had been a bridesmaid in her parents' wedding just two weeks before her death, has since been remembered as a kind girl who had a talent for creative writing.

The community and total strangers have since banded together to raise money for the young girl's family, raising thousands of pounds in just days.

The community was left reeling after Katie was found behind a row of £350,000 homes in Woodthorpe, York on Monday, with neighbours recounting the heartbreaking scenes of the seven-year-old's mother falling to her knees in tears.

One neighbour said she saw Alison Rough screaming for an ambulance after finding her daughter barely 90 minutes after she had finished school.