Boy found guilty of murdering 15-year-old Holly Newton in Northumberland

A young boy has been convicted of killing the high school student Holly Newton, causing 36 stab wounds, following reports that he had been following her.

The teenager, who is now 17 years old, confessed to manslaughter but argued against the charge of murdering 15-year-old Holly in Hexham, Northumberland, in January 2023.

Following a five-week trial at Newcastle crown court, the teenager, who was 16 at the time and cannot be named, was convicted of murder on Thursday.

Holly, a girl from Haltwhistle, was killed after she had left school in Hexham and was shopping with friends.

David Brooke KC, the prosecutor, explained that the accused was trailing Holly and her friends from afar. "It is evident that he was making sure not to be spotted by them for the following 45 minutes," Brooke stated.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the boy introduced himself to Holly, who was displeased to see him. She reluctantly agreed to have a conversation with him in a secluded alley. Unbeknownst to Holly, the defendant had brought a knife with him, as disclosed by Brooke.

In under a minute, the accused attacked Holly with a knife, causing 36 wounds. He stabbed her 12 times, slashed her 19 times, and caused five defensive injuries to her hands.

A teenager, aged 16, who was with Holly attempted to assist and was also wounded with a knife.

Onlookers were able to hold back the accused, who then claimed that Holly had treated him poorly or terribly, and then said: "Oh, what have I done?" The young man later confessed to the police: "I was planning to take my own life but things got out of hand."

Holly was brought to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle but unfortunately could not be rescued.

Brooke mentioned that Holly was feeling "very anxious" when she left school that day and searched for the boy in the school grounds and nearby area.

That day, she sent a message to a friend saying: "It seems like [the defendant] is planning to wait for me outside of school. It feels like he's constantly watching me now. He's going to keep following me until I have a conversation with him."

The jurors heard that Holly's mother, Micala Trussler, was very worried that morning. She even called the police about the boy, and they agreed that Holly should not go outside unsupervised.

The defendant, who has autism, stated in court that he could not recall stabbing Holly or the boy who tried to help her. However, he acknowledged that he was still accountable for his actions.

When questioned about the stabbings, he stated that he didn't recall them taking place. However, he did remember being in Hexham, getting off a bus, and walking around certain areas of the town.

The young man mentioned that he had been struck by his family members with a belt, a slipper, and shoes when he was growing up. He revealed that he had experienced "terrible things" swirling around in his mind.

The lawyer representing the defendant, Nigel Edwards KC, questioned him: "On the night Holly passed away, what was your intention when you went to Hexham?" The accused answered: "I did not go there with the intention of harming or killing her, that was not my intent."

When questioned about his intentions that day, he mentioned: "I wanted to attempt suicide."

Following the decision that found the defendant guilty, the judge, Mr. Justice Hilliard, asked Holly's mother to speak before the jury left. The judge mentioned, "Throughout this trial, the attention has been on the defendant, and you have only heard his perspective on Holly."

Trussler left the audience area and talked about her beloved child who enjoyed being with her family, playing sports, being with animals, and dancing. She mentioned how her daughter grew up to be a joyful teenager who was always ready to help others.

During her time at school, Holly was a diligent student who typically kept to herself and focused on completing her assignments. Her teachers always had positive feedback to share about her performance.

When Holly began attending Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, she felt a strong sense of connection. She had a close group of friends who always supported each other.

Holly's cat Maxi would meow every morning, asking to be let into her room, Trussler stated. "Even now, Maxi continues to do this, but Holly is no longer around to open the door."

The young man will receive his punishment during a two-day trial at Newcastle crown court on 31 October.