The 14-year-old boy who fatally stabbed 12-year-old Ava White told a police officer “shut up you n***e” as he was questioned.
The youth, who killed the schoolgirl after a row over a Snapchat video in Liverpool city centre, was arrested at about 10.30pm on November 25 after initially telling his mum he was “not going the cells”.
On Tuesday, the boy was found guilty of murder at Liverpool Crown Court, with judge Mrs Justice Yip saying that he would be sentenced at a later date.
The jury in his trial heard edited transcripts of five police interviews carried out in the days following his arrest.
Handout image of Ava White
Trinity RC Primary School
Following legal discussions, the jury was not told that at the end of his first interview, he told an officer: “Shut up you n***e.”
He also referred to “smoking weed” in part of an interview which was not read to the jury.
During interviews he denied being in the city centre on the night of the killing, claimed another boy was responsible, gave numerous “no comment” answers, told police “I’m not bothered” and said “I don’t f***ing know”.
In his evidence, the teenager was asked why he had lied to police and he said he thought he would “get away with it”.
He added: “I was scared I was going to go to jail.”
The boy was accompanied by an intermediary throughout the trial, which he attended over video-link.
He was given a fidget toy which the jury was told could help him concentrate due to his attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
The court heard the knife used in the stabbing belonged to the boy.
The coffin of Ava White is carried into Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral for her funeral in December
Danny Lawson
The jury was shown CCTV of the boy running from the scene after Ava was stabbed and heard he discarded the knife and his coat, which was later found in a wheelie bin.
About 40 minutes after he injured Ava, the boy was contacted by his mum who told him police wanted to speak to him.
The jury heard a series of text messages sent between the boy and his mum, including one in which he said: “I’m not coming home. Not going the cells.”
During his evidence, the teenager was asked why he had not agreed to give his phone to police.
He said: “Because they always take my phone.
“I have had a few phones took when I was in the police station.”
In March, the boy’s legal team contacted police to tell them the whereabouts of the knife he used to stab Ava.
He was asked in court why he wanted police to have that information and said: “Because I’m telling the truth and I didn’t mean to do it.”