UK - Girl, 13, charged with murder and arson after Marta Bednarczyk found dead in Wellingborough home, 10 March 2025

[Kasmeer]

Wellingborough murder jury given majority direction in trial

A jury considers its verdict over a teenage girl standing trial for murdering Marta Bednarczyk.

www.bbc.co.uk

Giving jurors a majority direction on Monday, High Court Judge Mrs Justice Tipples said: "I ask you once more to retire and to continue to try to reach a unanimous verdict.

"But if you cannot I will accept a majority verdict. This is a verdict with which at least 10 of you agree."

That was yesterday, after over 11 hours of deliberations, no further news today so I guess they're having some trouble deciding.

 

[Kasmeer]

Jury discharged in murder trial over Wellingborough killing

A new trial over the fatal stabbing of Marta Bednarczyk will begin on 5 May 2026.

www.bbc.co.uk

A new trial will begin on 5 May 2026 at Lincoln Crown Court.
High Court Judge Mrs Justice Tipples sent the jury out to consider its verdict on 9 December and on Monday jurors were instructed to give a majority direction.

Following a continued impasse, however, the judge said she was satisfied the jury would not reach a verdict and discharged them after 16 hours and 48 minutes of deliberations.

I can see why it's difficult to reach a verdict, I haven't seen detailed reports but it certainly sounds rather a headache to decide whether or not her mental health is enough of a factor to bring it down to manslaughter. Awful incident, I hope one way or another justice is reached the second time.

 

[Spectrix]

'It was like a mix of a male voice and a female voice
and also a buzzing at the back of my head.
Noise just going through it'.

'I felt as if there was a path leading me somewhere
and my body was just following that path.
I only remember that my body just lunged forward'."

The question I have is whether the voices also told her to research the blood & gore videos as well as the likely penalties for a 13 year old being charged with murder?

Because from where I'm sitting, it sounds as if a fascination with killing lead her down this path rather than voices telling her to do it.