Let’s have a look at which information the Wammy’s kids probably had available about the killings since Light started. I don’t think they watch much telly in Wammy’s so they rely on newspapers, radio or overhearing it from the staff talking about it. I have this image in my head of Mello, first thing in the morning he trots to the library to grab a couple of newspapers to read during breakfast and he sits in the canteen spreading his papers all over the table like a stereotypical middleaged sitcom dad. The most common Winchester based but fictional (I love making shit up) newspaper they have at Wammy’s is The Winchester Herald.
So let’s check which news spread how fast over the papers. Keep in mind that Tokyo and Winchester have a time difference of about 9 hours. Light’s actions usually take at least a day until they get printed in the UK.
2003.11.28, Friday
Light picks up the Death Note and kills 2 people.
Newspaper coverage: None.
Wammy’s reaction: None.
2003.11.29, Saturday
Light starts killing the most notorious criminals.
Newspaper coverage: None.
Wammy’s reaction: None.
2003.11.30, Sunday
Light continues killing, working his way down.
Newspaper coverage: THESE 4 NOTORIOUS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN DUDES ARE DEAD (imagine reading in the news “Charles Manson, Osama Bin Laden, El Chapo and Ted Bundy died of heart attacks in the last couple hours” wtf - this is what this first news coverage reads like) - also other prison inmates have reportedly died of heart attacks in prisons worldwide with unknown cause - authorities are on it
Wammy’s reaction: Spreads like wildfire among staff and students - especially the part about the deaths happening all at once and it all being heart attacks. Speculations run wild about what could be the cause. (At least) Mello insists on talking about it in the next Justus Society meeting. Explanation: I have “Justus” (L - refresher: Justus was L’s alias at Wammy’s and he’s operating as Justus in all terms regarding Wammy’s) leading a club at Wammy’s teaching about deduction and criminology called (I’m so sorry) The Justus Society / The Justus League (say it out loud, so sorry for that stupid ass name), regularly presenting his own cases/his other detective persona cases as projects to solve. He’s not there in person, he just provides instructions, cases, etc.. Mrs. Parrey leads this club and Justus is in regular contact with her. Justus signed every 150+ kid up for the club automatically. Matt never went there a single time until Mello mentioned “dude, we can look at real crime scene photos-” “okay where do I sign up”. Their club takes place twice a week - tuesday and thursday 16:30-18:00.
2003.12.01, Monday
Light continues killing, working his way down.
Newspaper coverage: MORE HEART ATTACKS IN PRISONS WORLDWIDE - experts confirm it’s always heart attacks - no murder weapon ever found - no conncetion between the victims, except they were all imprisoned and notorious
Wammy’s reaction: The Justus Society kids start rotting together and excitedly theorise what’s going on and if L or Edward Coil or Deneuve is on the case already. Mello casually drops in front of the other kids that he knows that “Justus” is L but the others are in denial until Near chimes in “no no, he’s right, can confirm”. They are all sitting on hot coals and effectively bother Mrs. Parrey about calling Justus to let him know about their theories. They want to help so badly!! Mrs. Parrey tries to talk them out of it “you don’t have more than some vague theories, I’m afraid you’ll have to bring more than that - besides, can’t this wait until tomorrow? :/” The kids try to talk her into making a spontaneous club trip to the closest prison (from which they have newspaper reports saying there was at least 1 confirmed heart attack) to interview some people about the case. Mrs. Parrey says no.