Boy, 15, who killed seven-year-old girl in motorbike crash callously told pals ‘she’s a vegetable’ after fleeing scene
A TEEN boy who killed a seven-year-old girl in a stolen motorbike crash callously told his pals: “She’s a vegetable”.
Katniss Seleznev was catapulted into the air after the horror crash in Walsall, West Midlands, last July.
A 15-year-old boy, who legally can’t be named, today admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court‘s youth court was told the motorbike involved in t he crash had been reported stolen the month before Katniss was killed.
A number of children had playing on their scooters when a motorbike was driven “at speed” down the quiet side street.
Katniss was seen “flying through the air” and landing on the tarmac, where another child tried to help pull her to the side of the road.
The boy on the bike did not stop at the scene of the crash and instead drove to a nearby road where a number of other youths were.
He was heard remarking on CCTV footage: “She’s a vegetable.”
Prosecutor Simon Brownsey said the bike was later found burned in scrubland.
Describing the effect of Katniss’s death on her family, the prosecutor added: “Her mother has not really left the house since this incident happened.
“The impact upon her mother, father, and her siblings is grave, very grave indeed.”
The court was told the boy had made a “deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road” and showed no regard for the safety of other road users.
Mr Brownsey said: “Katniss was seven, she was a vulnerable road user. A very serious aggravating factor is that (the boy) did not stop – he carried on, knowing what he had done, knowing he had, in his words, ‘left her as a vegetable’.”
The boy was bailed to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on May 22 for sentencing.
Katniss’ mum previously paid tribute to her “smiling” daughter, revealing the youngster’s dad had begged her to “open your eyes” after the crash.
She said: “God took her away too young and fragile.
“I don’t have strength and I don’t want to say goodbye to you, my star. How to let you go, my heart is bleeding, my soul is aching. Who will take care of you now up there my angel.
“I’m powerless, words are not enough, no consolation. Every day she told me, ‘I love you mom, you are the best mother and the most beautiful because you take care of me and do everything to make me happy’.”