Teenager accused of murder in Northamptonshire not suffering from depression, says expert witness
Marta Bednarczyk died in Wellingborough in March.
Last updated 25th Nov 2025
A 13-year-old girl accused of murdering a woman was not suffering from depression at the time of the killing, a forensic psychiatrist has told a jury.
Jurors at Lincoln Crown Court also heard how the teenager had made an internet search for a web forum featuring images of murder, torture and executions before the death of Marta Bednarczyk.
The defendant, who cannot be named because of her age, accepts that she unlawfully killed the 43-year-old but denies murder, claiming diminished responsibility.
Her trial has heard that she inflicted at least 143 knife injuries on Ms Bednarczyk at a terraced house in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in March this year.
Giving evidence to the court on Tuesday, Dr Tina Irani, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said that, in her opinion, the defendant was not suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning arising from a recognised medical condition at the time of the killing.
Asked why she did not believe the girl was suffering from depression, Dr Irani told the court: "There wasn't information to corroborate that.
"The psychiatric team that saw her (after the killing) did not see any symptoms which meet the criteria."
Dr Irani added that someone with severe depression would have minimal ability to speak and could appear withdrawn.
The Crown alleges that the 13-year-old planned the fatal stabbing, using more than one knife, and then tried to blame a third party.
At the start of the trial last week, prosecution KC Samuel Skinner claimed it was "the sad truth" that what lay behind the killing may never be known - and that it had nothing to do with the girl's mental health.
Jurors were also given an agreed facts document on Tuesday, containing evidence accepted to be true by the defence and prosecution.
Details of WhatsApp messages and internet searches linked to the defendant were read to the court, including Google searches for: "How do I know if I've got a mental illness?"; "What age can you go to jail UK"; and: "What happens when a 13-year-old murders?"
Psychiatric evidence in the trial, which is sitting at Lincoln Magistrates' Court, will continue on Wednesday.