Attempted murder charge dropped

A teenager accused of attempting to murder a 15-year-old girl in 2006 has had the charge against him dropped.

James Galloway, 19, of Garden Terrace, Ware, denied the charge during a trial at St Albans Crown Court, halted for legal reasons in October, last year.

His co-accused Edward Bell, 18, of Sandy Close, Hertford, admitted attempting to murder the victim, stabbed 30 times at a nature reserve.

Bell will be sentenced at St Albans Crown Court at a date to be arranged.

Mr Galloway had been told to expect a retrial after his original trial was halted when Bell gave an account to the jury that differed from what he had told police at the time.

Heard voices

But Judge John Bevan, QC, concluded at Luton Crown Court that it would be unfair to try Mr Galloway as Bell refused to co-operate with the prosecution at any future trial.

Patrick Fields, prosecuting, said he would not be appealing the decision and Mr Galloway was discharged.

The 15-year-old girl was left with more than 30 stab wounds after the attack on 19 December 2006 at Waterford Heath, near Bengeo.

Bell went to police saying he had murdered someone. He said he had heard voices telling him to carry it out.

Mr Galloway was alleged to have assisted him by illuminating the location with a mobile phone and providing the knife.