A 15-year-old girl has appeared in court charged with the murder of York seven-year-old Katie Rough.

The teenager appeared at York Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (January 11), and is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon.

The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded into secure accommodation. She is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on Friday.

Katie was found with serious injuries in a field behind Alness Drive in Woodthorpe on Monday at about 4.30pm. She died later that day in York Hospital.

A 15-year-old girl has been charged with the murder of Katie Rough.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged late last night, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement at 12.30am on Wednesday (January 11).

She has also been charged with possession of an offensive weapon.

The 15-year-old is due to appear at York Magistrates Court at 10am on Wednesday.

Katie, seven, died on Monday after being found with serious injuries on a field behind Alness Drive, York.

She was a “kind and thoughtful girl” according to her head teacher, Tracey Ralph of Westfield Primary School.

Police have appealed for witnesses who were in the area of Morrell Court, Bellhouse Way, Osprey Close and Alness Drive between 3pm and 5pm on Monday (January 9), and may have seen two girls, one aged 15-years-old and the other 7-years-old, to get in touch on 101.