Logan MacPhail has been identified as the perpetrator of the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Holly Newton in Northumberland. The revelation comes after restrictions were lifted concerning his identity following a recent knife attack in Hexham.
MacPhail, now 17, was found guilty of murder and wounding with intent in August but had remained unnamed due to his age. He is reported to have stabbed Holly 12 times and slashed her 19 times within just over a minute. Holly sustained a total of 36 knife wounds, including five injuries that indicated she attempted to defend herself.
On the day of the attack, a friend accompanying Holly also tried to intervene and sustained injuries in the process. Despite efforts to save her, Holly was pronounced dead after being transported to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Investigators revealed that MacPhail and Holly had been in a relationship that she wished to end. Prosecutors highlighted that MacPhail exhibited jealousy over Holly’s new boyfriend. On the day of the incident, January 27, 2023, Holly’s mother had expressed concern for her daughter’s safety. She reportedly contacted local authorities and made arrangements for Holly to remain at school if MacPhail was nearby.
Eyewitness testimony indicated that MacPhail followed Holly around the town center for approximately 45 minutes while she was shopping with friends. When Holly entered a pizza shop with a 16-year-old companion, MacPhail waited at a bus stop, called out to her, and lured her down an alleyway before attacking.
MacPhail, who has autism and a low IQ, denied the charge of murder but admitted to manslaughter, claiming he couldn’t remember the details of the stabbing incident. He maintained that he only intended to take his own life that day.
Sentencing for MacPhail is scheduled for October 31 and November 1. At the conclusion of the August trial, Holly’s mother, Micala Trussler, delivered an emotional tribute to her daughter, describing her as a “funny and happy teenager who would do anything for anyone.”
Trussler shared that Holly had a “small tight-knit group of friends” and had a passion for sports and dance, which greatly contributed to her self-confidence and sense of fearlessness. “There was nothing that Holly couldn’t do,” she said.
Credit: Sky News
