Kayla Smith, 18, Pleads Guilty to Murdering 16-Year-Old Chloe Watson Dransfield in Leeds
Kayla Smith, 18, has pleaded guilty to murdering Chloe Watson Dransfield, who was 16, after changing her plea at Leeds Crown Court. She entered the plea on Thursday, 12 November, on the second day of her trial. Earlier she had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but had denied murder.
Chloe was attacked at Smith's home in Leeds, West Yorkshire. She had gone there with her boyfriend, Blake Dowling, and the fatal fight took place on 28 March. Dowling had been in a relationship with both Chloe and Smith, and he booked a taxi to take Chloe to Smith's home for the fight, according to The Guardian.
According to the same report, CCTV and video doorbell footage showed Smith coming out of an annexe in her grandfather's garden holding a knife. Chloe was stabbed five times in the neck and back and bled to death. Smith's grandfather, Geoff Smith, called for an ambulance 37 minutes after the stabbing. Chloe was taken to hospital by ambulance and was pronounced dead at 6.40am.
Smith had been at her grandfather's house in Austhorpe, east Leeds, with Archie Rycroft, 20, before the attack. Rycroft and Dowling, 18, are also charged with murder and manslaughter. Both deny the charges, and their trial will continue.
Mr Justice Cavanagh KC, the judge hearing the case, said Smith will be sentenced when the trial concludes. He said the only sentence available is life imprisonment.
