Boy, 16, is charged with murder of schoolgirl
A 16-YEAR-OLD boy has been charged with murder after a schoolgirl was stabbed to death in the market town of Hexham, Northumberland.
Tributes have been paid to 15-yearold Holly Newton from Haltwhistle, who died following an incident in the Priestpopple area of Hexham shortly after 5.10pm on Friday.
Paramedics called to the scene discovered Holly and a 16-year-old boy, who had also been injured. They were both taken to hospital but Holly was pronounced dead a short time later. A pizza shop worker who was near to the incident when it happened described how he had tried to help Holly.
He said: “I went to work on Friday night not expecting to be dealing with something like this. You don’t expect this sort of thing in Hexham. I tried to help but unfortunately I failed, there wasn’t anything I could do.”
The injured boy, who is also thought to have tried to save Holly, remains in hospital in a stable condition and his injuries are not thought to be lifethreatening. Another boy, aged 16, was arrested on suspicion of assault and later on suspicion of murder.
He has now been charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is scheduled to appear before magistrates in Newcastle this morning.
Holly’s family and friends have been laying flowers and cards at the scene. One note from her mother read: “To our baby Holly. Our hearts hurt so much right now. We love you so much. Love mam and Lee. See you soon beautiful.”
Another laid by her grandmother read: “Always loved never forgotten. You’ll never be out of our thoughts. All our love nana and grandad.”
Holly was a pupil at the local Queen Elizabeth High school and was a keen dancer. Hexham, which has been described as Britain’s happiest town, has been rocked by the incident, with Hexham Abbey inviting people to light a candle to remember Holly.