Girl, 7, fatally stabbed by stranger in front of her father while riding scooter in a park on Mother's Day
A seven-year-old girl was stabbed to death by a stranger woman in front of her horrified father as she rode her scooter past a park bench on Mother's Day, an inquest heard.
Emily Jones was out "enjoying the spring sun" with her family at Queen's Park in Bolton on March 22 when the 30-year-old unidentified woman, who was sitting on a wooden bench, stabbed the girl in the neck. Emergency services were called to the park at around 2.30 pm and she was rushed to nearby Salford Royal Hospital, but Emily died a short time later despite the "best efforts" of the doctors.
It has been reported that Acting Senior Coroner Alan Walsh, who described Emily's death as "one of the most tragic", opened the inquest into the child’s death at Bolton Coroner's Court and also released her body to allow a funeral to take place.
“I have been truly touched by the photographs of Emily that have been sent to me. I send my heartfelt condolences to Emily's family and friends, but particularly to her parents, who were present in the park and her father, who was nearby."
“In my 20 years as a coroner this is one of the most tragic deaths that I have dealt with and the loss of a beautiful, innocent, lively, intelligent and lovely seven-year-old in these circumstances is an unimaginable tragedy. I appreciate that Emily's parents are beyond devastated and my sincere thoughts are with them at this enormously sad time,” said Walsh.
During the judicial inquiry, police coroner's officer Rebecca Gardner told the court, “Emily was on her scooter playing. As she rode past a wooden bench, a female sat on the bench suddenly attacked Emily, stabbing her in the neck, causing catastrophic injury."
“Emily was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, but despite best efforts to save Emily her death was diagnosed at 15.56 hours that day.” The court also heard that Emily’s autopsy found that she died as a result of an incised wound of the neck.
The accused woman was arrested at the park and has been detained under the Mental Health Act. She remains in a high-security facility.
Reports revealed that no one from Emily’s family was present at the court for the family, but Mr Walsh added, 'I make those comments because the police have kept me informed of the tributes the family made shortly after Emily's death and the photograph that was sent to me, through the police, of her in her school uniform and looking a happy, intelligent child." “I am enormously sad at her death and it is important that her parents know that all our wishes are with them and our thoughts are with them at this enormously sad time.”
Meanwhile, the child’s family paid tribute to their daughter as they called her “the light of our lives". Her parents said, “She was always full of joy, love, and laughter. Emily had such a cheeky smile and was beautiful inside and out. She had a heart as big as her smile." “Emily was never happier than when she was spending time with her family and friends, she was our own little social butterfly. Emily had a passion for the outdoors and loved to play any sport, even when she was wearing her pink sparkly dresses.”
“We are beyond devastated that this random act of violence means that we will never get to see our beautiful little girl grow up into the wonderful young lady she was showing such promise of becoming. It is truly heartbreaking to wake up to a world without Emily in it and we cannot comprehend why this has happened,” they added.
The heartbroken parents also thanked the members of the public that helped them “in the park and express our gratitude to the emergency services for doing their utmost to save Emily’s life”. “Thank you to everyone for their kind messages of support and for continuing to respect our privacy at this difficult time.”