A teenager has dramatically changed her plea and admitted murdering 16-year-old Chloe Watson Dransfield during a pre-planned fight over a boy in Leeds.
Kayla Smith, 18, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder when her trial began at Leeds Crown Court.
However, on the second day of proceedings on Thursday, Smith pleaded guilty to murdering Chloe, bringing the case against her to an abrupt end while the trial of her two co-defendants continues.
Chloe, from Gomersal, was stabbed five times in the neck and back during the confrontation in Austhorpe in the early hours of March 28.
Smith Will Receive Life Sentence
Mr Justice Cavanagh KC told Smith that murder carries a mandatory life sentence.
The judge will determine the minimum period she must spend in custody before she can be considered for release.
Smith will be sentenced after the conclusion of the continuing trial involving Blake Dowling, 18, and Archie Rycroft, 20.
Both men deny murder and manslaughter.
Fight Was Over Blake Dowling
Leeds Crown Court heard that Dowling had been involved in “on-off” relationships with both Smith and Chloe.
Prosecutors said there was significant hostility between the two girls because of their respective relationships with him.
Dowling’s mother described Smith as “jealous and obsessed” over her son’s relationship with Chloe.
On the night Chloe died, she was at Dowling’s mother’s house.
When Smith discovered she was there, prosecutors said the girls began arguing over the phone and eventually agreed to fight.
Smith Threatened To Stab Chloe
Jurors heard that Smith repeatedly threatened Chloe in the hours before the confrontation.
A friend who was on FaceTime with Chloe said she heard Smith screaming down the phone at Dowling.
Smith allegedly shouted: “Blake, I’m gonna smash your head in… you better not be with no girls… Chloe better not be there.”
When Chloe made clear she was with him, the witness said Smith responded: “I’m gonna stab you in your throat.”
Chloe later messaged a friend saying she was going to fight Smith.
Dowling Booked Taxi To Austhorpe
Dowling booked a taxi which took Chloe to the area around Smith’s home in Austhorpe.
Prosecutors allege he knew about the hostility between the girls and played a part in organising the confrontation.
The Crown says Dowling assisted and encouraged Smith to use violence by taking Chloe to the scene for the specific purpose of a fight.
Dowling denies knowing Chloe would be seriously harmed and denies both murder and manslaughter.
‘Come On Big Girl’
CCTV and Ring doorbell footage played to the jury showed Smith emerging from the summer house in her grandfather’s garden, where she was living.
She was carrying a knife.
Smith could be heard shouting: “Come on big girl.”
Prosecutors said she could also be heard threatening to stab Chloe immediately before the confrontation.
Chloe was then stabbed five times in the neck and back.
She suffered fatal blood loss.
Rycroft Accused Of Recording Attack
Archie Rycroft followed Smith towards the confrontation.
Prosecutors allege he was carrying Smith’s phone and intended to record the violence.
The Crown says a video was subsequently deleted from the device and has never been recovered.
Rycroft denies the allegations and says he followed Smith out of curiosity and did not see that she was carrying a knife.
He denies murder and manslaughter.
‘You Can’t Ring The Police, She’s Dead’
After the stabbing, Smith and Rycroft ran back towards the summer house.
CCTV footage recorded at around 5.12am, approximately one minute after the stabbing, showed them outside with Smith’s grandfather, Geoff Smith.
The court heard him say: “I’m ringing the police.”
Smith replied: “You can’t ring the police, she’s dead.”
An ambulance was called 37 minutes after the stabbing.
Smith’s grandfather was later seen performing CPR on Chloe on the footpath before a neighbour also attempted to help her.
Chloe was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead at 6.40am.
Smith And Rycroft Allegedly ‘Laughing And Joking’
Prosecutor Mark McKone told jurors that when police later arrived to arrest Smith and Rycroft, the pair were with two friends.
He alleged they were “laughing and joking” and using nitrous oxide in front of police officers.
Smith had previously accepted that she inflicted the fatal wound but maintained that she had not intended to kill Chloe or cause really serious injury.
Her guilty plea to murder on Thursday means that issue will no longer be determined by the jury.
Trial Continues For Dowling And Rycroft
The jury will continue hearing evidence concerning Dowling and Rycroft.
Prosecutors allege Dowling played a role in organising the violence by arranging Chloe’s journey to Smith’s home despite knowing about the threats and hostility between the girls.
They allege Rycroft encouraged Smith by accompanying her to the confrontation and attempting to record the violence.
Both men deny the prosecution case and continue to plead not guilty to murder and manslaughter.
Smith will remain in custody until she is sentenced following the conclusion of their trial.
