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Kayla Smith, aged 18, today (Thursday, 12 November 2026) admitted to the murder of 16-year-old Chloe Watson Dransfield in a jealousy-fuelled knife attack at Leeds Crown Court, after discovering the teenager was with her ex-boyfriend. Smith, of Kennerleigh Avenue in Austhorpe, Leeds, changed her plea on the third day of her trial, having previously admitted manslaughter but denied murder. The admission means she now faces a mandatory life sentence for the fatal stabbing, which occurred at approximately 6am on Saturday, 28 March 2026.
The central question throughout the trial has been what motivated Smith to fatally stab Chloe five times in the neck and back during a pre-planned confrontation. The answer, according to prosecutors and witness testimony, lies in a toxic love triangle involving 18-year-old Blake Dowling, who had been in on-off relationships with both Smith and the victim.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that Dowling's mother, Zoey Dowling, provided crucial context in a statement read to the court. She described Smith as having become "jealous and obsessed" with her son's relationship with Chloe. Mrs Dowling told the court: "Kayla-Mae is 18-years-old and was in a relationship with Blake two years ago and has previously lived with me. In my opinion their relationship was not good and always argued and even after they split up she always tried to cause issues and became jealous and obsessed with his relationship with Chloe."
The prosecution, led by Mark McKone KC, painted a picture of escalating hostility between the two young women in the weeks and days before the fatal attack. The court heard that on the evening of 27 March, Chloe was with Dowling when Smith telephoned. A friend of Chloe, who was on a FaceTime call with her at the time, heard Smith screaming threats down the phone, including: "Blake, I'm gonna smash your head in…you better not be with no girls…Chloe better not be there." When Chloe confirmed her presence, the witness heard Smith state: "I'm gonna stab you in your throat."
Jurors were shown a series of text messages Smith sent in the early hours of 28 March, which prosecutors say demonstrate the premeditated nature of the attack. At 4.27am, Smith allegedly messaged Chloe: "Come catch this fade b****" — "fade" being slang for a fight. Chloe replied: "Okay sweet cheeks." Ten minutes later, at 4.37am, Smith allegedly messaged a friend stating she was "stabbing her…on my nana's ashes." At 4.53am she told the same friend "she's on her way" and "I'm stabbing her."
The court heard that Dowling booked a taxi to transport Chloe from her location to Smith's home in Austhorpe, where Smith lived in an annexe in her grandfather's garden. Ring doorbell footage played to the jury showed Smith emerging from the property in her pyjamas, shouting "Come on big girl," with what prosecutors described as "something shiny" in her raised right hand. She was then heard saying: "I'm gonna stab you."
The stabbing itself was not captured on the doorbell footage, but a male voice could be heard laughing on the recording. Smith was seen running back towards the annexe with her co-defendant, Archie Rycroft, following closely behind. Chloe was left bleeding in the street for approximately 37 minutes before anyone called emergency services. The court heard Smith was overheard telling her grandfather, Geoff Smith: "You can't ring the police, she's dead."
Mr Justice Cavanagh KC warned Smith that the only sentence available for murder is mandatory life imprisonment. He indicated he would determine the minimum term she must serve before being considered for release by the Parole Board once the trial of her co-defendants has concluded. Smith has been remanded in custody in the meantime.
The trial continues for Blake Dowling, 18, and Archie Rycroft, 20, of Middleton Park Road, who both deny charges of murder and manslaughter. The prosecution alleges that Dowling played a pivotal role in organising the violence; he knew Smith wanted to stab Chloe and, by booking the taxi, assisted and encouraged Smith by taking Chloe to the scene for the purpose of fighting. Rycroft is accused of supporting Smith by walking with her to the fight and attempting to film the violence on his phone. Neither Dowling nor Rycroft has been convicted of any offence, and their cases remain before the jury.
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