A 16-year-old boy followed a schoolgirl for 45 minutes through the city centre before stabbing her to death in an alleyway, a court has heard.
Holly Newton, 15, was walking home from school when the teenager inflicted 36 knife wounds on her in the attack in Hexham, Northumberland, it is alleged.
Jurors at Newcastle Crown Court heard another teenager put the attacker in a headlock but was also stabbed.
Passers-by then intervened, removing the boy from Holly and restraining him before he was arrested at the scene by police, the court was told.
David Brooke KC, prosecuting, said Holly was taken to hospital but could not be saved.
“Be careful not to be seen”
He told the court the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, “was careful not to be seen” as he followed his victim to a pizzeria.
The defendant, now 17, admitted manslaughter but pleaded not guilty to murder.
He also denies wounding with intent and unlawfully wounding another boy and admits one count of unlawful possession of a sharp object, it was heard.
Mr Brooke said Holly left school with her friend and walked into Hexham on January 27 last year, where they met a boy and went to various shops including Tesco.
The defendant had gone to school that day and told his teacher at lunchtime that he was very tired and wanted to go home.
He was allowed to leave and did so at 1.30pm. However, instead of going home, he took a bus to the Metrocentre and then another bus to Hexham, arriving at 3pm.
He then walked a little way to Sele Park. Meanwhile, Holly and her friends had also walked to the park and then to the city.
CCTV Evidence
Mr Brooke said: “There is CCTV evidence from the city centre which shows that shortly before 4pm the defendant was following them from a distance. He was careful not to be seen by them for the next 45 minutes.
“Around 4:45 p.m., [Holly’s female friend] left but Holly and [the boy] continued to walk together. The defendant continued to follow them.
“Holly and [the boy] “They went to a pizza place in town where they ordered food. There is a bus stop right outside the pizza place. The defendant hid a little further down the street, but then walked over to where Holly was waiting outside the pizza place.”
It is alleged that the defendant attacked Holly with a knife in an alleyway at approximately 5 p.m.
Mr Brooke said: “The CCTV doesn’t show the events that took place in the alleyway itself, but when we watch it we can see the boy’s reaction to what was happening. The boy says he heard Holly screaming from the alleyway.
“The boy ran down the alley. He said he didn’t immediately realize what was happening, but he could see the defendant was attacking Holly. Holly was on the ground.
“The boy pulled him by the head. The boy was then attacked by the defendant and stabbed.
“The boy ran to the pizzeria for help. Passersby and people from the store also came to arrest the defendant. He was pulled away from Holly as he continued to stab her. The blade of the knife had broken.”
An ambulance was called and Holly was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The trial continues.
