Teenage boy charged with murder of Holly Newton in Northumberland

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a teenage girl who was stabbed to death in Northumberland.

Holly Newton, 15, was wounded in the market town of Hexham at about 5.10pm on Friday and died later in hospital.

Another 16-year-old boy received non-life-threatening injuries and was also taken to hospital.

Police said on Sunday that Holly’s death had left her family “devastated beyond words”, as friends and relatives laid floral tributes at the scene.

A note left by Holly’s 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 note by her grandmother read: “All ways loved never forgotten. You’ll never be out of our thoughts. All our love nana and granddad.”

Northumbria police said the suspect, who cannot be named because of his age, had been charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon. He is scheduled to appear before magistrates in Newcastle on Monday.

Ch Supt Sam Rennison, of Northumbria police, said: “Holly still had so much left to look forward to in life, and this tragic incident has left her family devastated beyond words. Their grief simply cannot be put into words, and our thoughts are with both families involved and their loved ones as we continue to support them in every way we can.”

Rennison said detectives believed that all those involved in the incident were known to each other and there was no wider risk to the public.

She added: “With a teenage boy now charged in connection with this incident, I would ask that everyone continues to avoid any speculation – both out in the community and on social media – that could jeopardise the live legal proceedings.

“I would also remind people that the person who has been charged is under the age of 18, is legally entitled to anonymity and must not be named or identified.”

Flowers and teddy bears were among the tributes left at the scene of the attack near a Pizza Pizza takeaway and a bus stop in the centre of Hexham, a town crowned the happiest place to live in Britain two years ago.

Derek Kennedy, the mayor of Hexham, said the community was “in complete shock”. He said: “To lose one of our children who attends a local high school is just horrendous. Parents are really anxious for the health of their children because they’re all a part of this community, the schools are all really anxious that their children are really feeling the pain and suffering and shock of such an awful incident.”