Knife accused 'looked online at incel ideologist'

A teenage boy who stabbed a girl at a school searched the internet for a man considered to be an early adopter of incel and manosphere culture, a jury has heard.

The 15-year-old girl was knifed in the back at Thorpe St Andrew School near Norwich on 11 March.

Speaking at King's Lynn Crown Court, the prosecution said examination of the 16-year-old defendant's phone showed searches for Elliot Rodger, described to jurors as an "early influence on incel and manosphere culture".

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies attempted murder.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC referenced Rodger's name while telling jurors about online searches made on the boy's phone for serial killers.

Incel - an abbreviation of "involuntarily celibate" - is a term used to refer to groups of men who feel that they cannot enter into sexual relationships.

The jury has been told the defendant, aged 15 at the time, was captured on CCTV stabbing the girl.

She described to police how she then told a teacher "Sir, I've been stabbed".

In his closing speech earlier, Paxton said the boy had a "lust for and interest in serial killers and killing" and that "he wanted to be one".

Jurors have heard how he wrote notes saying he hated women and Paxton said "the idea of violence makes his brain click".

The boy has not given evidence during his trial and the barrister told the jury he had not said "one word" to deny wanting to kill and "we suggest that's because he can't."

Although he has denied the charge of attempted murder, he has admitted possessing a kitchen knife without lawful authority and wounding with intent.

The trial continues.

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