Sky News on the Columbine connection to British teens' trial

Another month, another high-profile reference to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Yesterday marked the start of a trial in London focusing on Matthew Swift, 18, and Ross McKnight, 16, who are accused of planning to blow up their school. This scheme would have triggered memories of Columbine under any...

By Michael Roberts

September 3, 2009

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Another month, another high-profile reference to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Yesterday marked the start of a trial in London focusing on Matthew Swift, 18, and Ross McKnight, 16, who are accused of planning to blow up their school. This scheme would have triggered memories of Columbine under any circumstances: Witness coverage last week about Alex Youshock, who was busted for bombing his California high school (no one was injured). But in this case, the mentions aren't gratuitous: Prosecutors allege that Swift and McKnight were specifically inspired by the killings here a decade ago. Indeed, Columbine was front and center in their opening arguments, as Sky News reporter Mike McCarthy makes clear in a report from Manchester Crown Court. Watch it above.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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