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Trio Deny Murder of Teenage Girl in Leeds in Row over Boy
Prosecutors said the attack followed threats and a planned confrontation over a boy, with a friend accused of filming and helping arrange the meeting.
- At Leeds Crown Court, three defendants—Kayla Smith, 18, Blake Dowling, 18, and Archie Rycroft, 20—are on trial for the killing of 16-year-old Chloe Watson Dransfield, who was stabbed five times during a pre-planned fight in Austhorpe on March 28.
- Prosecutor Mark McKone said the conflict stemmed from a love triangle involving Dowling, who previously dated both Smith and Dransfield. The court heard Smith sent multiple threats to 'stab her' in the hours leading up to the confrontation.
- Footage from a neighbour's doorbell captured Smith 'striding quickly' while holding a 20cm kitchen knife, while prosecutors allege Rycroft filmed the attack on a phone. A post-mortem confirmed the teenager suffered a fatal 13cm wound to her back.
- Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder, while Dowling and Rycroft deny both charges. Following the stabbing, Smith and Rycroft were found by police 'laughing and joking' while inhaling nitrous oxide.
- The trial is expected to last four weeks as jurors examine the roles of the defendants. Dransfield's family previously said they were 'utterly devastated' by the loss of their 'beautiful princess' and that she would 'never be forgotten.
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Kayla Smith's grandfather informed authorities - Chloe Dransfield was stabbed three times in the back and twice in the neck
·Marousi, Greece
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
C 67%
R 25%
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