Handwritten notes of 10 and 11-year-old boys who plotted to rape and kill their 'really annoying' classmate read to court
Note was found in one of the boys’ backpacks after the pair had been caught with a knife and a semi-automatic handgun at their elementary school
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The detailed notes of two elementary school pupils who plotted to rape and kill a “really annoying” female classmate have been revealed to a court.
A seven-point list suggested the two boys, aged 10 and 11, planned to lure their victim outside the school, rape her, then stab her death, according to prosecutors.
One boy was to carrying out the actual murder, while the second used a handgun to keep any witnesses at bay.
The handwritten note was found in one of the boys’ backpacks after the pair had been caught with a knife and a .45 calibre semiautomatic handgun at Fort Colville Elementary School in Colville, Washington.
When questioned by police, the two boys apparently admitted planning to murder their classmate.
Last Friday a judge ruled the pair were fit to stand trial at a juvenile court, with a state psychologist and a psychiatrist hired by the defence team both concluding the boys are a ‘danger to society’.
Tim Rasmussen, working for the prosecution, told the court that the boys’ plan to rape their intended victim had little to do with the physical act of sex, saying it instead was all about “power and control”.
Revealing that the boys had paid $80 to a student who stumbled across their plans in an effort to keep it a secret, Rasmussen said: “'This was a plan. And it was a plan to kill.”
According to a witness statement, the boys’ plot only came to light after a pupil told a teacher that he had seen a boy in the year above carrying a knife.
The boys’ bags were searched and a teacher found the knife along with a 45 calibre Remington 1911 semiautomatic handgun and an ammunition clip.
When questioned, the older boy apparently told police he had another six targets among his classmates, adding that he had previously been friends with his main intended victim but “hated her now” because she had “become rude” and started picking on him.
Describing their investigation, Colville police Superintendent Mike Cashion said: “My background is a high school counsellor and psychologist, and quite frankly, in 30-plus years, I never heard of anything like this at this age level.”
In Washington, children younger than eight are considered incapable of committing criminal acts, while those aged between eight and 12 can be considered incapable in some circumstance.
The trial continues
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments