GUILTY UK - Lucy McHugh, 13, murdered,, Southampton, 25 July 2018

[Alyce]

Emma Wright, the assistant headteacher at St Anne's Catholic School in Southampton, is now called to the witness box.
She said Lucy's behaviour presented her as being "vulnerable".

Ms Wright tells the court that while Lucy was in Year 7 she was spoken to a number of times about her behaviour. She said teachers had a particular concern about Lucy's phone usage. She said pupils are banned from using phones during school hours.

Ms Wright tells the court the school attempted to have a meeting with Lucy's mother after she admitted using Snapchat to contact a man named "Stephen". However, she said the meeting did not happen.


LIVE: 'She was a lovely, bubbly, bright, intelligent girl': Lucy McHugh trial continues today

 

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Ms Wright tells the court she later spoke to Lucy after hearing rumours that Lucy had a boyfriend named "Stephen".
Lucy told her that Stephen was not her boyfriend and was a friend of Richard Elmes and was staying on their sofa.
Ms Wright said she made a referral to social services.

She said Lucy's mother, Stacey, was "very cross and very very unhappy" about the school's decision to refer the matter to social services.

Ms Wright tells the court that Lucy's mother had discussed moving Lucy to Redbridge Community School - where Lucy later moved in Year 8.

Ms Wright added that social services spoke to Lucy's mother, but that it had been a "long and difficult conversation". Ms Wright said social services decided they would take not further action at that time.

Nicholson's defence barrister, James Newton-Price QC, is now cross-examining Ms Wright.

Mr Newton-Price is clarifying a few factual points with Ms Wright about the report to social services.


LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

[Alyce]

Lunch break - court and me

 

[Alyce]

There is set to be a short legal argument this afternoon before the trial restarts.

 

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2:26pm

The court now hears from Jennie Boorman, Head of Year 7 at St Anne's Catholic School in Southampton.

2:27pm

She tells the court she had a conversation with Lucy after receiving a number of reports from students that Lucy had a boyfriend called "Stephen".

2:29pm

Ms Boorman said: "Lots of girls had come to me to say Lucy had a boyfriend. They were quite excited because she was telling other girls about her new boyfriend."

2:30pm

She said she spoke to Lucy, who said she did have a boyfriend called "Stephen", who was 19 and living at her home.

2:33pm

Ms Boorman said she reported it to Emma Wright, who the court heard from this morning. Ms Boorman tells the court she attempted to address the issue with Lucy's mother, who she said sounded "exasperated" about it. Ms Boorman said Stacey told her Stephen was not her boyfriend but a family friend.

2:36pm

In cross-examination, Mr Newton-Price makes a few factual checks, before Ms Boorman leaves the witness box.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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2:40pm

The court now hears from Nicola Franklin, who was Lucy's head of year in Year 8 at Redbridge Community School.

2:41pm

Ms Franklin described Lucy as being as "good as gold" in lessons and that she was "bright and intelligent".

2:44pm

She said in February 2018 she received a report from a fellow pupil who said Lucy had been talking about marijuana, drink and a man named "Stephen" who she had had sex with.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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2:45pm

Ms Franklin tells the court that Lucy denied smoking weed, but admitted smoking cigarettes and that she denied having sex with "Stephen".

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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2:54pm

Ms Franklin tells the court she contacted the MASH team but they said they had investigated the claims while she was at St Anne's Catholic School and they were not concerned.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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2:54pm

Ms Franklin tells the court she contacted the MASH team but they said they had investigated the claims while she was at St Anne's Catholic School and they were not concerned.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

I think this is outrageous.

 

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MASH

http://southamptonlscb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Guidance-for-Professionals-Leaflet2.pdf

 

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3:00pm

Mr Newton-Price now cross-examines the witness. He makes a number of factual checks with Ms Franklin.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

[Joolz1975]

I think this is outrageous.

Hear it too many times don't we families, schools, social services,police and courts all failing our most vulnerable.

Makes me sick to be honest, how many times do these things have to happen?

 

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3:05pm

Mr Newton-Price asks if Lucy's mother Stacey ever reported that Lucy would make things up. She said "yes".

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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3:07pm

The court now hears from a friend of Nicholson, Gary House. The court hears he knew Nicholson from childhood and they shared an interest in reptiles.

3:09pm

He tells the court he witnessed an argument between Nicholson and Lucy, in which he heard the teenager shout, "it's all your fault".

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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3:10pm

Mr House said he believed the argument was sparked because Lucy had let down the tyres on Nicholson's bike.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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3:15pm

Under cross-examination, from Mr Newton-Price, Mr House tells the court he was only an "occasional" visitor to the house Nicholson was staying in and would go to visit Nicholson. He said the argument was the first time he had seen Lucy.

3:18pm

His evidence is now over. The court will now have a short break.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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3:35pm

The court now hears from a female friend of Nicholson. She says the pair met when Nicholson had a tattoo shop in Shirley.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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3:39pm

She is asked by William Mousley QC about Nicholson's relationships with Lucy. She said she thought from Nicholson's perspective that Lucy "bugged" him and "would rather she just leave him alone".

3:40pm

The friend tells the jury she thought Lucy had a "crush" on Nicholson.

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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3:40pm

The friend tells the jury she thought Lucy had a "crush" on Nicholson. She also described Lucy as a "lovely girl who was a bit hyper".

LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears

 

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3:45pm

She tells the jury she witnessed arguments between Lucy and Nicholson. She said: "I had concerns relating to Lucy. Not that Stephen was doing anything wrong but that he was a trigger (for the arguments).

"I said he needed to give them (the family) some time as a family."

3:46pm

She tells the court she thought the situation was "getting worse" near to the time when Lucy went missing.


LIVE: School chiefs believed Lucy McHugh was 'vulnerable', court hears