Age of domestic violence viewed after family phone call

Holly Newton was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend after ending their relationship

Family handout Black and white photo of Holly. She sits with her back against a wall and smiles at the camera — Holly Newton was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend after ending their relationship

The age at which victims of domestic violence are recognized by the law should be looked at following the murder of 15-year-old Holly Newton, the Home Secretary has told the BBC.

The teenager was stalked and then stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend Logan MacPhail in Hexham, Northumberland, last January.

Holly’s mother, Micala Trussler, is campaigning to lower the age at which someone can be legally recognized as a victim of domestic violence.

Yvette Cooper told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that it was an ‘extremely important issue’ and that the Government would take ‘seriously the points that Holly’s family had made’.

Currently, the abuser and the victim must be over 16 years old for domestic violence to occur.

“We’ll be looking at this specifically because we need to make sure we have the right ways to capture this kind of violence in teen relationships,” Cooper said.

“I think this is an extremely important issue and we need to take seriously the points they have raised.”

Logan MacPhail was found guilty of murder and sentenced to at least 17 years in prison

Northumbria Police mugshot of MacPhail. He has dark eyes and medium length dark hair. — Logan MacPhail was found guilty of murder and sentenced to at least 17 years in prison

Micala Tussler has called for “better education” on the issue of domestic violence

Family handout A selfie of Holly and her mother. Holly has long brown hair and Micala has blonde hair, both smiling at the camera. — Micala Tussler has called for “better education” on the issue of domestic violence

Ms Tussler added that more needs to be done to educate people about domestic violence.

“Children start relationships much younger, they can be victims of domestic violence,” she said.

‘We need more education, not only for children, but also for teachers and parents.

“We talk about safe relationships, but often about abuse by family members, but don’t talk about when they (children) are in relationships and look for red flags.”

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The young couple had been together for 18 months after meeting as army cadets.

MacPhail, then 16, chased his victim for almost an hour before launching the savage attack.

Now 17, he admitted manslaughter but was found guilty of murdering Holly and deliberately wounding another youth who tried to stop the attack.

Lee and Micala Tussler campaign for changes to the law after Holly’s murder

Lee and Micala Trussler stand side by side in a room with a painting on the wall behind them. Lee has short dark hair and wears a gray hoodie, Micala has long blonde hair and wears a black top. — Lee and Micala Tussler campaign for changes to the law after Holly’s murder

Holly’s stepfather, Lee Trussler, said: “I think if Holly had known what to look out for, the relationship would have ended much sooner.”

He called on young people to “talk to each other” and support each other.

“Don’t be afraid to tell parents what’s going on, or an adult, your caregivers,” he said.

“Don’t be afraid to say what’s going on, because if you’re afraid to say what’s going on, it could end very badly.”

The family has also raised money to install bleed boxes – to help manage critical bleeding – in public areas.

The Home Secretary added that she had sympathy for Holly’s family and that it was a “truly terrible thing”.

The government has pledged to halve the amount of violence against girls and women within ten years, Cooper added.