Boy, 12, yawns as he appears in court accused of murdering grandmother, 60, who died after being hit by car

11 April 2023, 14:27

Marcia Grant died after being run over by her own car
Marcia Grant died after being run over by her own car. Picture: Alamy

By Asher McShane

A 12-year-old boy yawned and was told to take his feet down from the front of the dock as a judge discussed with lawyers when he should go on trial accused of murdering a "wonderful and beautiful lady with a heart of gold".

The youngster appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday accused of running over 60-year-old Marcia Grant with her own car.

Mrs Grant died outside her home in the Greenhill area of Sheffield on Wednesday.

The boy, who cannot be named, sat in the dock in Court 7 with three staff from his secure accommodation and a court security officer.

Read more: Police divers return to river where Nicola Bulley’s body was found as they investigate cause of death

Read more: Bomb squad robots sweep Londonderry cemetery hours ahead of Joe Biden's arrival in Northern Ireland

Tributes have been paid to Marcia Grant after her death
Tributes have been paid to Marcia Grant after her death. Picture: Alamy

Dressed in a light-brown hooded tracksuit, he gazed around the court as the lawyers discussed the case, occasionally leaning back, putting his hands behind his head and looking up at the journalists and police officers sitting in the public gallery.

At one point he yawned and was also told by one of the officers accompanying him to take his feet down from the front wall of the dock.

The defendant spoke at the beginning of the hearing to confirm his name and again at the end, to acknowledge that he understood what was happening when the judge explained what was going to happen next.

Floral tributes at the scene in Sheffield
Floral tributes at the scene in Sheffield. Picture: Alamy

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, said the case had to be prioritised due to the age of the defendant and he fixed a provisional trial date for August 14.

Judge Richardson dispensed with his normal robes for the hearing, as did prosecutor Ian Goldsack and Ben Campbell, who was defending the boy.

He said everything possible should be done to bring the case to trial in August but he set a fall-back date of October 3.

The judge said there will be a case management hearing on May 5 at 2pm.

He remanded the boy into secure youth detention accommodation after a 20-minute-long hearing.

Mrs Grant was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene of Wednesday's incident outside her house in Hemper Lane, Greenhill.

The boy is also charged with possession of a bladed article relating to a silver kitchen knife alleged to have been found by police called to the incident.

Mrs Grant's family released a statement after her death which said: "Marcia was a warm, loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a pillar of her community."

A number of floral tributes have been laid outside her semi-detached home.

One message attached to the flowers said: "You were such a wonderful and beautiful lady with a heart of gold."

Another said: "Marcia was such a lovely lady."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Breaking News

Prince Harry's libel case over article about his security arrangements must go to trial, judge rules

Breaking
Tributes have been paid to Lianne after she was shot dead outside her home in east London

Boy, 16, arrested on suspicion of murder of mother-of-two shot dead in Hackney

Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California

Hunter Biden faces up to 17 years behind bars as he is charged over tax evasion

Seychelles Blast

Seychelles declares emergency after deadly flooding and explosives depot blast

Jon Rahm becomes world's highest paid sportsman after joining Saudi-backed LIV golf

Jon Rahm becomes world's highest paid sportsman after joining Saudi-backed LIV golf league in £450m deal

James said Hugh and Anna gave his charity a £20,000 gift

Hugh Grant and his wife Anna donate £20,000 to 'Britain's kindest plumber'

Israel Palestinians Southern Gaza Human Toll

Desperation grows among Palestinians as Israel’s war in Gaza continues

Commuters were stranded for hours

'Who was in charge?' Fury at Elizabeth Line chaos that saw thousands stranded for hours before 'smashing out of carriages'

Palestinians 'are captured by IDF, stripped and paraded around Gaza'

Dozens of Palestinian men captured by the IDF, stripped and paraded around Gaza

Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright (l) and Victoria Hall (r)

Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright re-arrested over unsolved murder of teenager Victoria Hall 24 years ago

The Government spent a further £100 million in the 2023-24 financial year

PM faces new pressure over Rwanda scheme as costs spiral by another £100m - before a single asylum seeker sent there

Two men have been arrested over an alleged bed bug treatment fraud

Two men arrested after dozens of people scammed out of cash for fake bedbug treatments they did not need

Rachel Riley was caught up in the Elizabeth Line disruption

Rachel Riley and James Blunt among Elizabeth Line passengers stuck for hours after electrical cables damaged

Queen Camilla is said to back her ex husband's new relationship with Anne Robinson

Camilla 'backs ex Andrew Parker Bowles' new relationship with Anne Robinson and even jokes about double dates'

Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden has nine tax charges added to gun indictments in latest legal probe

Boris Johnson gives evidence to the Covid Inquiry

Boris Johnson slammed by victims' families after telling Covid inquiry Partygate coverage is a 'travesty of the truth'