Teen killer 'did not stalk' girl before stabbing

Holly Newton was stabbed multiple times in Hexham in January 2023

A teenager accused of murdering a 15-year-old girl has denied stalking her before the attack.

Holly Newton was stabbed multiple times in an alleyway in Hexham, Northumberland, in January 2023, Newcastle Crown Court has heard.

A 17-year-old boy, who was 16 at the time and cannot be identified, has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.

On his sixth day giving evidence, the youth also said he had a history of harming himself without really knowing what he was doing.

The court has heard the boy followed Holly through Hexham for about 45 minutes before stabbing her at about 17:00 GMT on 27 January 2023.

Earlier in the day, Holly had told friends he was "stalking" her, while her mother had arranged a meeting with police for that evening to discuss her worries about the youth.

The defendant (in the red box) followed Holly (in the yellow frame) before attacking her

When asked by prosecutor David Brooke KC if he was "stalking" Holly, the boy, who has been diagnosed with autism, said he was not sure.

Judge Mr Justice Hilliard told the boy stalking meant "following" or "being obsessed" with a person and asked him: "Were you doing that do you think?"

The boy replied he didn't think so.

He said he had gone Haltwhistle, where Holly lived, the night before because he believed she would meet him.

He was reported missing by his mother and police took him home after finding him near Holly's home, the court has heard.

The youth said he accepted he stabbed Holly, but his mind was "blank" at the time and he wanted only to hurt or kill himself.

He told jurors he had cut himself "loads of times" when he was younger, adding he did so "without really knowing".

He denies wounding another boy who was injured while trying to stop the attack.

The court has heard Holly had 36 knife injuries and the killer's knife broke during the attack.

The trial continues.