Teen ‘tried to kill two pupils at Devon public school in horrific attack with hammer he bought for zombie apocalypse’
A TEEN tried to kill two pupils at a public school with a hammer he had bought for the “zombie apocalypse”, a jury heard today.
The lad, 17, who cannot be named, claimed he was “sleepwalking” when he launched his attack.
Two of the victims, then aged 16 and 15, were taken to hospital in life-threatening conditions and will never fully recover, it was said.
Exeter crown court heard the alleged attacker planned to kill the boys while they slept in a shared dormitory at Blundell’s School in Tiverton, Devon, last June.
Prosecuter James Dawes KC described the “bloodbath” that ensued.
He said: “The defendant decided to put into action a plan that he had been fomenting in his head for some time.
“The boys were asleep and they both had their heads on pillows. He smashed the hammer into their heads as they slept — multiple times.
“He also hit arms and backs. He didn’t just use the flat end of the hammer, he used the claw as well.
“These blows smashed their skulls. Blood went everywhere. The scene has been described as horrific by those who saw it.”
He added: “Astonishingly, they both survived. Sadly, neither of them will ever be the same again.”
Housemaster Henry Roffe-Silvester, 38, who went to investigate the noise, managed to seize the hammer but was also seriously injured.
The defendant later told a senior pupil he had been “dreaming”. He denies three counts of attempted murder.
The trial continues.