Mother of stabbed 15-year-old praises the teenager’s boyfriend, 16, for attempting to protect her

The mother of a ‘truly lovely’ schoolgirl stabbed to death in a quiet country town says she can never thank her daughter’s boyfriend enough ‘for trying to save my baby girl’.

Keen dancer Holly Newton, 15, died from knife wounds after she and her boyfriend, 16, were attacked in Hexham, Northumberland, on Friday afternoon.

A 16-year-old boy was yesterday charged with her murder and attempted murder of the boy. He is due to appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Yesterday, Holly’s mother Micala Trussler responded to a Facebook post from the injured boy’s older brother, saying: ‘Holly was so excited about her new relationship with your brother! I can never thank him enough for trying to save my baby girl.’

Keen dancer Holly was described as ‘quiet, conscientious, helpful and kind’ by her school

Holly’s mother Micala Trussler wrote on Facebook that the teenager had ‘loved animals’. She was organising a tribute for her on February 3. She said she would be taking purple lights and purple candles to the event 

Micala Trussler responded to a Facebook post from the injured boy’s older brother, saying: ‘Holly was so excited about her new relationship with your brother! I can never thank him enough for trying to save my baby girl.’

Holly’s mother Micala Trussler wrote on Facebook that the teenager had ‘loved animals’. She was organising a tribute for her on February 3. She said she would be taking purple lights and purple candles to the event.

A member of the injured boy’s family said he was recovering in hospital following a two-and-a-half hour operation on Saturday. They said: ‘It’s so tragic Holly died that way. It seems like he did his best to protect her.’

Among those laying flowers yesterday at the scene was a worker at a pizza shop next to the alley where the stabbing took place.

The man, who did not want to be named, told how the wounded boy had gone into the shop with a neck injury, pleading for help. ‘I tried to save her but failed,’ he said.

One local, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I was sitting across the road and the police were on the scene immediately. They had a lad cuffed and put him in the van and then two ambulances came.’

A message on flowers left at the scene by Holly’s mother and stepfather Lee Trussler reads: ‘To our baby Holly, our hearts hurt so much right now. We love you so much.’ Mrs Trussler, 33, a hospitality manager, from nearby Haltwhistle, was too upset to comment.

Holly was a pupil at Queen Elizabeth High School, in Hexham. It said: ‘We are devastated at the loss of Holly, a truly lovely student who was quiet, conscientious, helpful and kind.’

Kerry Whitfield, owner of Lightning Dance Academy in Consett which Holly attended, said: ‘It’s such a shock. Holly was at a dance practice on Thursday night. She was a lovely girl, always helpful in class with a great sense of humour.’

In 2021, Hexham was named the happiest place to live in the UK by property website Rightmove.

A message on flowers left at the scene by Holly’s mother and stepfather Lee Trussler reads: ‘To our baby Holly, our hearts hurt so much right now. We love you so much’

Specialist search team carry out their investigation at the scene

One friend said on Facebook: ‘It’s such a cruel world that we live in. It’s saddens me so much you were taken from us at such a young age.’

A candle-lighting service has been held at Hexham Abbey so people could pay tribute to Holly, who lived in Haltwhistle, a market town about 15 miles west of Hexham.

Family and friends have laid messages, floral tributes and teddy bears outside the Halifax bank on Priestpopple in Hexham, in a touching tribute.

One message left by loved one reads: ‘All our love to the most beautiful girl in the world. We will miss you forever Holly’.

Another read: ‘To our baby Holly. Our hearts hurt so much right now. We love you so much’.

A GoFundMe page has been set up in memory of Holly, with donations surpassing its £3,000 target in less than a day.

Officers from Northumbria Police were called shortly after 5.10pm on Friday to a report of a teenage boy and girl injured in the Priestpopple area of Hexham.

In a statement the force said: ‘Holly still had so much left to look forward to in life, and this tragic incident has left her family devastated beyond words.

‘Our thoughts are with both families involved and their loved ones as we continue to support them in every way we can.

One tribute read: ‘To our baby Holly. Our hearts hurt so much right now. We love you so much’. Pictured: Tributes left at the scene last night 

One message left by loved one reads: ‘All our love to the most beautiful girl in the world. We will miss you forever Holly’. Pictured: Tributes left at the scene

Family and friends laid messages, floral tributes and teddy bears in memory of Holly Olivia

‘The investigation is ongoing, and we would like to thank 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.

‘Officers will remain in the area over the coming days, and we would encourage anyone with concerns to speak directly with them.’

Chief Superintendent Sam Rennison, of Northumbria Police, said it is ‘tragic news’.

At a press conference on Saturday, she said: ‘First and foremost, our hearts go out to her loved ones at this truly devastating time.

 Friends and family have described Holly Olivia as a ‘beautiful’ girl who loved to dance

‘A 16-year-old boy who was also injured during the incident remains in hospital in a stable condition.

‘He and his family are also very much in our thoughts. An investigation was immediately launched and while this is at the very early stages, we do believe all those involved are known to each other.

‘We would like to thank the public for their continued support and co-operation.

‘In particular, those who tried to provide assistance yesterday to the injured boy and girl at the scene.’

Derek Kennedy, mayor of Hexham, said: ‘The whole town is still coming to terms with this, it’s been a massive shock.

‘I was at Hexham Abbey where they’ve held a service for Holly, I lit a candle as did other people to pay tribute.

‘A young girl who’s just starting life and attending the local high school, starting her education and getting out there, it’s just terrible, as a town we pay tribute to her.

‘It’s going to have a big impact on all the schoolchildren when they go back on Monday because one of their own won’t be coming back ever again.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page on the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230127-0795.