A 17-year-old boy who stabbed a 15-year-old girl to death in the street after stalking her has been convicted of murder.
Holly Newton suffered 36 injuries in the attack down an alley in Hexham in January 2023, when she was attacked by the boy, whom she knew.
The defendant, who has mental health issues, admitted manslaughter but denied murder, claiming his mind went blank that day and that he had only intended to take his own life.
The Prosecution's Case
The prosecution said he had followed Holly around the town centre for about 45 minutes as she visited shops with friends, after the group had finished school for the day.
Holly had told a friend just hours before he stabbed her that the youth was “basically stalking her”, jurors heard. The boy asked to speak to her when he saw her outside a pizza shop, lured her down an alleyway, then attacked her with a knife he was carrying.
The defendant also narrowly avoided killing the teenage boy who had been with Holly that day, and who tried to step in to save her.
The Verdict and Sentencing
Jurors were sent out to start deliberations on Tuesday and Mr Justice Hilliard thanked the panel for their careful deliberations. He will pass sentence on the teenager on October 31 and November 1.
Holly's Mother Speaks Out
In an unusual step, the judge invited Ms Trussler to pay tribute to Holly before the jury dispersed, so they had a better picture of the kind of girl she was. Mr Justice Hilliard said: “The focus has been about the defendant in this trial and you have only heard his view of Holly.
“Before you depart, I wanted you to have a more complete understanding of her and what she was like.”
Ms Trussler, from Haltwhistle, stepped out of the public gallery and described how her “beautiful child” loved her family, sport, animals and dancing. She said: “She grew into a happy teenager who would do anything for anyone.”
She added: “At school Holly was a quiet student who just got on with her work. There was never a bad report from her teachers.
“When Holly started at the Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham she felt like she belonged, she had such a tight-knit group of friends who were always there for each other.”
Her cat Maxi miaowed every morning to be let into her room, Ms Trussler said. “To this day, Maxi still does this, however Holly isn’t there to open the door,” she said.
CPS Response
The judge said: “It is the kind of devastation that knives leave in their wake when people carry them and use them.”
Outside court, Lynsey Colling, head of the Crown Court unit for CPS North East, said: “The killing of Holly Newton has been utterly devastating for her family and our focus throughout this case has been to ensure that the person responsible was brought to justice for his actions.
“A significant challenge for us in the early stages of the case was to establish the defendant’s fitness to plead, which had been raised as an issue by the defence.
A Devastating Loss
The tragedy of Holly Newton's murder has sent shockwaves through the community of Hexham and beyond. Her family and friends are left to grapple with an unimaginable loss, while the community mourns a bright young life cut tragically short. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the importance of addressing issues related to mental health and support for young people.
This case has also highlighted the issue of stalking and the dangers it can pose. Holly's story underscores the need for greater awareness and action to protect individuals from this type of harassment. It is crucial to ensure that victims of stalking have access to support and that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
Moving Forward
As the community of Hexham and beyond continues to process this tragedy, there is a collective desire to honor Holly's memory and work towards a safer and more supportive environment for young people. This includes raising awareness of mental health issues, providing resources for those in need, and taking concrete steps to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future. The focus must now shift to supporting Holly's family and friends in their healing process, while also working towards a future where such senseless acts of violence are a thing of the past.
The defendant's sentencing will be a crucial moment in this case, offering an opportunity for the court to consider the full extent of the impact of his actions and to ensure that justice is served. This case is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is hope for healing and a chance to build a brighter future for all.
