Jury out in schoolboy murder trial

Feb 2 2012

A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a teenager accused of murdering his schoolmate.

Craig Roy, 19, admits stabbing 16-year-old Jack Frew in woodland near their school in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, on May 6 2010 but denies murdering him.

Jack was stabbed 20 times and his throat was slashed.

Roy claimed he had no memory of the attack and said he only recalled taking out the kitchen knife and then seeing Jack lying bleeding to death on the ground.

At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Matthews told the jury of nine women and five men to make their decision "carefully and calmly".

He said: "Put out of your mind any personal feelings you may have towards the alleged crime, or any sympathy you may have for anyone involved in the case."

Lord Matthews also explained to the jury that to convict Roy of murder they must be convinced that he acted with "wicked intent" or with "wicked recklessness" for the victim's fate.

Jurors are expected to return their verdict later.