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29th January 2023
12:06pm GMT
Holly Newton, 15, was fatally wounded in the Priestpopple area of Hexham at about 17:10 GMT on Friday and later died in hospital.
A 16-year-old boy, who was also taken to hospital, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Another 16-year-old boy was initially arrested on suspicion of assault, and later on suspicion of murder. Northumberland Police have now confirmed that he has been charged with the murder of Newton. https://twitter.com/inzyrashid/status/1619663810440331264 He has also been charged with attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons is scheduled to appear before magistrates in Newcastle on Monday.Northumbria Police Ch Supt Sam Rennison said Holly, of Haltwhistle, "still had so much left to look forward to in life, and this tragic incident has left her family devastated beyond words".
She added: "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.
"The investigation is ongoing, and I'd like to show my appreciation to the people of Hexham - and beyond - who have greatly assisted with our enquiries and shown their support.
"While our enquiries continue, we do believe all those involved are known to each other and there is no wider risk to the public."
A GoFundMe page has since been set up to help her family with funeral costs.
At the time of writing, £4,460 has been raised. [caption id="attachment_375863" align="alignnone" width="1170"]
Holly Newton has been named locally as the victim of Friday's stabbing in the Priestpopple area of Hexham (GoFundMe)[/caption]
Police were called shortly after 5:10pm on Friday to reports of a boy and girl who had suffered "injuries consistent with having been caused by a bladed article."
The pair were both taken to hospital, with Holly passing away later that evening.
Derek Kennedy, mayor of Hexham, said: "It’s an absolute tragedy, the town is in complete shock, 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.
"In the Hexham community we have a very low crime rate, generally, it’s a community that looks after one another, we were awarded the happiest place to live in Great Britain last year.
"It’s a very warm and loving community so for a tragedy such as this to happen, we always find it much more difficult and it’s knocked everyone for six.
"To happen to such a young person and the alleged perpetrator to be a young person, in the high street at 5pm, is just shocking, everyone is just shocked and struggling to come to terms with it, it will ruin so many lives."
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