Boy, 12, appears in court accused of murdering woman hit by car in Sheffield

One of the youngest children to be charged with murder in the UK appeared in court today, ITV News' Matt Price reports

A 12-year-old boy charged with murder after a woman was hit by a car in Sheffield has been remanded into secure accommodation following an appearance at the city’s youth court.

Marcia Grant died after she was trapped under her Honda Accord, which is alleged to have reversed over her at speed outside her semi-detached home in the Greenhill area of Sheffield on Wednesday evening. The boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, appeared at Sheffield Youth Court on Saturday charged with murdering the grandmother and possessing a bladed article. He is alleged to have reversed the car over Mrs Grant, leaving her with catastrophic injuries. The defendant smiled occasionally as he looked around the court and listened to a prosecutor discuss the allegations against him with two magistrates.

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Police were called to the Greenhill area of Sheffield on Wednesday 5 April

He stood in the glass-fronted dock flanked by two security officers during the 30-minute hearing, speaking to confirm his identity.

The youngster, who was wearing a dark blue jumper over an open-necked light blue shirt and blue trousers, was ordered to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on April 11.

Emergency services were called to Hemper Lane at around 7.10pm on Wednesday 5 April to reports of a collision between a woman and a car.

Mrs Grant, 60, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the 12-year-old boy was found a short time later and was arrested on suspicion of murder.

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The schoolboy appeared before magistrates at Sheffield Youth Court

Marcia's family have paid tribute to the "loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and a pillar of her community."

In a statement, they said: “Her loss has already sent shockwaves through all who knew her or was lucky enough to be included in her orbit. “We ask for privacy at this time while further investigations are under way and the family try to come to terms with this enormous loss.” A number of floral tributes had been left outside the property which had police tape across the driveway. One message read: “I’m so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful soul.”

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