Teenager detained for 12 years minimum for attempted murder at private Blundell’s school in Devon

A teenager who attacked two sleeping students and a teacher with hammers at a private school in Devon has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 12 years after being found guilty of attempted murder.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was armed with three claw hammers and waited for the two boys to be asleep before attacking them at Blundell’s school in Tiverton, Exeter crown court heard.

He was wearing just his boxer shorts and used weapons he had collected to prepare for a “zombie apocalypse”, the court was told.

  • linearchaos@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Weird kid in a private boarding school, withdrawn, perhaps autistic mostly online.

    Reading between the lines there’s a pretty good chance that the other kids were mercilessly picking on him.

    The zombie invasion line might well have been an attempt to get out of premeditation that he didn’t go and grab the hammers to kill them.

    He’s still squarely in the wrong and definitely needs to be pulled out of society for a very long time and get psychologic help, But I strongly suspect there are some things at play here that aren’t being reported on.

    Given I haven’t met a lot of psychopaths, But I have met plenty of children who have been bullied until they snapped.

    • stoly@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      A neurodivergent at a private school would never stand a chance.

      • linearchaos@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I agree, and the school should have been ready for that. There is no way they didn’t know this was going on.