Teen who killed girl, 7, sent to psychiatric ward

A TEENAGER who killed a seven-yearold girl that she believed to be a robot sobbed yesterday as a judge sent her to a psychiatric hospital.

The 16-year-old smothered and stabbed Katie Rough, pictured, on a playing field in York last January. She said she had done it to see if the victim was ‘real’. After the attack she then called 999.

But until yesterday the killer – described as ‘selectively mute’ – had shown no emotion during her court appearances.

Mr Justice Soole announced a 12-week interim hospital order yesterday to properly assess the teenager’s psychiatric state before final sentencing.

As the judge concluded his ruling at Leeds Crown Court, the killer slumped forwards and started crying loudly.

The teenager, who can’t be named, had denied murder and the Crown accepted her manslaughter plea by reason of diminished responsibility.