Logan MacPhail, a 17-year-old teenager, stabbed his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend Holly Newton to death in Hexham, Northumberland, in January 2023.

MacPhail stalked Holly for an hour, following her around the town centre with friends before launching a frenzied attack, stabbing or slashing her 36 times with a kitchen knife.

MacPhail was “deeply unhappy” that their 18-month relationship was over and “jealous” that she was with a new boy. He travelled over 40 miles from his home in Gateshead to Holly’s house the night before, hanging around nearby before police took him home.

CCTV footage shows MacPhail, masked and in a baseball cap, speaking to Holly at a bus stop moments before the attack.

He inflicted 36 knife wounds, stabbing her 12 times and slashing her 19 times, with five defensive injuries to her hands.

MacPhail has autism and a low IQ, and has been jailed for life, serving a minimum of 17 years ¹.