By Christian Smith

A 16-year-old girl has admitted to the manslaughter of Katie Rough.

The girl, appeared before a judge at Leeds Crown Court via video link today, where she pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Seven year-old Katie, a pupil at Westfield Primary School, York, was found with severe lacerations to her neck and chest on a playing field in the Woodthorpe area on January 9. She later died in hospital.

The police recovered a knife in the home of the teenage girl, who was 15 at the time.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made her plea on paper after Nicholas Johnson QC, defending asked the court if the charge of murder could be put to her.

He told the court: “I can confirm she has indicated not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.”

Graham Reeds QC, prosecuting, accepted the plea of manslaughter by diminished responsibility.