Family of girl murdered by ex given law change hope

The family of a murdered schoolgirl says the government has told them it plans to create a new law defining teenage abusive relationships because of their campaigning.

Micala and Lee Trussler met the Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls minister Satvir Kaur at the Home Office in London on Monday, where they were given an outline of the plans.

Their daughter, Holly Newton, was 15 when she was stabbed to death in an alleyway in Hexham in January 2023 by her ex-boyfriend Logan MacPhail.

Kaur said: "Stories like Holly's are why we are deploying the full power of the state to halve violence against women and girls in a decade."

MacPhail was 16 when he killed Holly and could not accept the relationship was over. He had been controlling and stalked the teenager in the run up to her death.

Police recorded her murder as knife crime because the law does not recognise those under 16 as victims of domestic violence.

This is something her mum and stepdad, Micala and Lee Trussler, have been campaigning to change.

Lee said: "Without that classification they can't receive the help and guidance that they need to safely exit that relationship."

But Micala and Lee agree that a standalone definition for abuse in teenage relationships would be as effective as lowering the age someone can be classed as a victim of domestic abuse.

Micala said: "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."

In January, a House of Lords select committee started a review of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to consider its impact and effectiveness.

Among the areas it examined was the definition of domestic abuse and The Act's recognition of children – like Holly - as victims. The move to explore a new definition for teenage relationship abuse comes as a result of this review.

In a statement, Kaur said: "Micala Trussler has shown incredible courage in campaigning in Holly's memory, following the unimaginable loss of her daughter.

"Stories like Holly's are why we are deploying the full power of the state to halve violence against women and girls in a decade."

The MP for Hexham Joe Morris who accompanied the Trusslers to see the minister said the government was taking the family's concerns seriously.

He said: "This is a major victory for Micala and her hard work and campaigning on this issue because Holly was failed, and I'm delighted to see the seriousness and the rigour the government is treating this issue, and I think it's a massive step in the right direction to get Holly's law on the statute book."

The government has not revealed a timeline for the proposals or said when the full review of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 will be revealed.

Logan MacPhail was detained for at least 17 years in 2024 for carrying out the "vicious and brutal" stabbing.

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