A teenager who fatally stabbed his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend has been sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in detention. Logan MacPhail, who stalked Holly Newton for nearly an hour before attacking her in Hexham, Northumberland, in January 2023, was initially charged with manslaughter but was later convicted of murder and for injuring another youth who intervened.

During the sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Mr. Justice Hilliard described MacPhail as “filled with resentment” and determined to kill Holly during a “vicious and brutal” assault. The couple had been together for 18 months after meeting through army cadets. Holly’s mother, Micala Trussler, shared that their relationship was typical for teenagers, noting MacPhail’s mild demeanor contrasted with her daughter’s lively personality. However, she recognized “red flags” regarding his controlling nature only after it was too late and expressed her anguish over not understanding the emotional distress Holly faced while trying to end the relationship.

In the days leading up to the attack, Holly had ended things with MacPhail, which he later admitted left him feeling “angry” and “jealous.” On the night of January 26, he showed up unannounced outside her home in Haltwhistle and had to be escorted away by police. The next day, armed with a kitchen knife concealed in his backpack, he left school early and traveled to Hexham to find Holly.

Dressed entirely in black with a mask and cap obscuring his face, MacPhail trailed Holly and her friends for around 45 minutes as they visited local establishments. He waited until she was alone at a bus stop before confronting her and lured her into a nearby alley where he launched a brutal attack lasting about a minute. Holly suffered 36 stab wounds during the assault; the knife broke amidst the violence, and another boy who attempted to rescue her was also injured.

The attack ceased when bystanders intervened. MacPhail attempted to justify his actions by claiming that Holly had been “horrible” to him. In court, Justice Hilliard stated that MacPhail’s actions were motivated by jealousy and resentment. He noted that MacPhail had brought the knife with intentions of coercing Holly into resuming their relationship through intimidation.

The judge also remarked on the horrific nature of the injuries inflicted on Holly, emphasizing that she was aware she was fighting for her life throughout the ordeal. He dismissed defense arguments regarding MacPhail’s cognitive abilities, affirming that he intended to kill Holly. Justice Hilliard highlighted that Holly was a vibrant young girl whose life held immeasurable value.