Murder of schoolgirl, 15, stabbed to death by her jealous ex-boyfriend sparks a change in law around abusive teenage relationships

The murder of a schoolgirl who was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend has sparked plans to create a new law defining teenage abusive relationships.Holly Newton, 15, was killed after school in Hexham, Northumberland, in January 2023 by Logan MacPhail, now 19, who lured her into an alleyway before knifing her 36 times. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years at Newcastle Crown Court in November 2024 for murdering the teenage girl.MacPhail, who was unhappy about their break-up, followed her through a Northumberland market town when she finished classes for the day before knifing her 36 times and stabbing a teenage boy who tried to stop the attack.A court heard how MacPhail was 'filled with resentment and jealousy' after Holly broke up with him and launched the 'vicious' attack because she refused to consider getting back together.MacPahil, who was 16 at the time, had been controlling throughout their relationship and then stalked Holly in the run-up to her death. Her brutal murder was recorded by police as knife crime because the law does not recognise those under 16 as victims of domestic violence.Holly's mother and stepfather, Micala and Lee Trussler, have campaigned since her death for the introduction of 'Holly's law' – which would enable under 18s to be classed as victims of domestic abuse. Holly Newton, 15, was stabbed to death in January 2023 in a vicious attack by her ex-boyfriend Logan MacPhail (then 16) after she ended their 18-month relationship Holly's mother and stepfather, Micala and Lee Trussler, have campaigned since her death for the introduction of 'Holly's law'The couple has now said that a standalone definition for abuse in teenage relationships would be even more effective than lowering the age classification.Mrs Trussler told BBC News: 'I think a stand-alone definition is actually better than just lowering the age because it is actually giving teenagers better protection and also acknowledging teenage relationships can look a lot different to adult relationships.'We've definitely felt really proud that we've got here because we have campaigned for so long. It's also quite emotional because we've still lost Holly.'But I do feel like they've [the government] taken Holly's story seriously and they've realised the failings in her case. And we're now helping other young people get the support they really, really need.'The House of Lords select committee began a review into the Domestic Abuse Act in January.During the review, they considered whether children like Holly should be considered victims.Following the review, the Government is now exploring a new definition for teenage relationship abuse. The move to explore a new definition for teenage relationship abuse comes as a result of this review. Jealous ex-boyfriend Logan Macphail, now 18, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 17 years MacPhail approached Holly while she waited at a bus stop outside a pizza shop, before luring her into a nearby alleyway Chilling CCTV footage shows MacPhail, who was wearing a hat, arrive in Hexham on the afternoon of the killing and put on a face covering before following Holly (pictured) and her friends MacPhail followed them undetected for 45 minutes while carrying a knife, before confronting Holly at a bus stopSpeaking after the trial, Mrs Trussler described how MacPhail became increasingly controlling and 'obsessed' with Holly. She said: 'He was obsessed with her for a long time. He didn't like her to go out.'He didn't want her to go out with her friends. He needed to know where she was all the time, even if she was just at home. He wanted to know what she was doing.'He changed her passwords on all of her social media, so she was quite upset about that, because she couldn't get into any of it.'There was just a lot of controlling behaviour going on.'The two teenagers, who met at Army Cadets and were together for around 18 months, briefly split up before Holly's death, but got back together partly because she 'felt sorry' for her killer, Mrs Trussler said.As well as autism, MacPhail also had a severe speech impediment and learning difficulties, and struggled to read and write.After raising concerns with her mother over MacPhail's behaviour, Holly then split up with him for good, but her killer could not accept the relationship was over.The evening before murdering Holly, MacPhail travelled 40 miles to her house and demanded to be let in, before spending hours lurking outside the property.The family were so concerned over his behaviour that they set up a meeting with police officers the next day for Holly and her parents to attend after school.But in a heartbreaking twist of fate, Holly begged to be allowed to go into town with friends before the meeting and was murdered before she could ever attend it.MacPhail had again travelled 40 miles to Hexham that day, and, unbeknownst to the schoolgirl, tailed her and her friends for 45 minutes before confronting Holly at a bus stop.Having lured her into a nearby alleyway, he then stabbed Holly 36 times, and also attacked a male friend who had accompanied her when he tried to intervene.Members of the public were eventually able to pull MacPhail off the teenager, but so frenzied was his attack that he was still stabbing her at the time – with such force that the blade of the weapon had broken.Mrs Trussler told how upon hearing of the attack, she rushed to the scene but was prevented from seeing her daughter. The knife used by Logan MacPhail in the murder of Holly NewtonIn a devastating victim impact statement in court, she said: 'I was stopped from seeing my daughter in the alleyway and the ambulance due to the horrifying condition she was in.'The last time I saw my daughter was that morning, I never saw her with her eyes open again. I never heard her last words.'My daughter died not knowing her mam was by her side. Once at hospital, I was unable to even touch my daughter, hug her, kiss her or hold her hand.'My daughter was a crime scene, she was evidence.'Although MacPhail openly admitted to arresting officers that he was responsible for killing Holly, lawyers appointed to him attempted to stop him from ever standing trial. They pointed to factors including an autism diagnosis and a low IQ score, and it was also revealed that he had been subject to a child protection plan at the time which deemed him to be an 'at risk' minor.Holly's family told how it took almost 18 months for a decision to finally be taken on MacPhail's fitness to stand, which they say prevented them from grieving for her.Lee Trussler, Holly's stepfather, said: '[Defence lawyers] tried to say Logan wasn't competent enough to stand trial.'It was frustrating. We had to wait for a year and a half nearly for it to be found that he was fit enough to stand trial.'Mrs Trussler added: 'We felt like we couldn't grieve for Holly until we'd got some sort of justice for her, so it was a long time not to grieve properly for our child.'READ MORE: Chilling moment jealous ex lured 15-year-old Holly Newton into alleyway where he stabbed her to death after stalking her across town for 45 minutes - as he's jailed for 17 yearsREAD MORE: UK on alert for cyber criminals who hacked into freezers in supermarkets across Europe causing them to defrost and catch fire - as British retailers warned to patch vulnerabilities before it happens here