A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a much-loved teacher who was stabbed to death in front of her pupils.
Spanish teacher Ann Maguire, 61, was months away from retiring, after working at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds for more than 40 years, when she was attacked in a classroom on Monday in front of around 30 pupils.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge the 15-year-old with the murder after he was arrested and interviewed under caution by police.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear at Leeds Youth Court today and Leeds Crown Court for a bail hearing tomorrow.
In a statement, Peter Mann, head of the CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “The death of Mrs Maguire has attracted a considerable amount of public interest and media activity. This defendant now stands charged with an extremely serious criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could prejudice these proceedings.”
The head of the school, Steve Mort, earlier described his immense pride at leading the students and staff as they tried to cope with the tragedy.
He spent around 15 minutes reading some of the hundreds of messages placed outside the school.
It has emerged that Mrs Maguire, who was described as a “wonderful, dedicated teacher”, raised her two nephews alongside her own two daughters following the death of her sister from cancer.