The obsessed teenager who stalked and killed schoolgirl Holly Newton has been revealed for the first time as her ex-boyfriend.
Logan MacPhail, 17, stabbed the 15-year-old 36 times in a darkened alley just days after she dumped him.
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Logan MacPhail stabbed his ex to death after becoming obsessed with her
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Holly Newton is lured into an alley and brutally murderedCredit: PA
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The video shows how the killer stalked her around town for 45 minutes
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Holly then agreed to talk to him at the bus stop seconds before he killed her
He was consumed by jealousy when she ended their 18-month relationship and followed her for 45 minutes before attacking her with a kitchen knife.
MacPhail was convicted of murder in August but could not be identified because of his age.
A judge has now ruled he can be named and photographed, meaning details of their “toxic” relationship can finally be revealed.
The twisted teenager will be sentenced later this month when he is jailed for life for murdering Holly on January 27 last year.
The couple had met three years earlier when they were both attending army cadets in Consett, Co Durham.
They became close and after about 18 months started a relationship.
But MacPhail was a troubled young man who had autism and educational needs and attended a special school in Gateshead.
Friends said the couple often argued and broke up several times.
They always got back together, but on Saturday, January 21 – six days before Holly died – she broke up for the last time.
A jury in MacPhail’s trial heard that he struggled to accept that it was finally over.
Prosecutor David Brooke KC told Newcastle Crown Court: “Logan MacPhail has struggled to come to terms with the break-up.
“He was clearly very unhappy about it.”
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MacPhail traveled by bus to stalk Holly
On Thursday of that week, the then 16-year-old left the house, telling his mother he was going to the store.
Instead, he traveled to Holly’s home in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, saying he wanted his possessions back, including the PlayStation, but his mum wouldn’t let him inside.
Meanwhile, his mother informed the police when he did not return from shopping. Officers found him in Haltwhistle in the early hours of Friday morning and took him home.
He was sent home from school later that day after telling his teachers he was tired.
But instead of returning to his home in Gateshead, he caught two buses to Hexham, Northumberland, where Holly attended school.
He pestered her friends to try to “trick” Holly into meeting him, leaving her “extremely nervous”, the court heard.
She texted friends: “He’s actually stalking me right now. He will follow me until I speak to him.”
Holly’s worried mum contacted the police who spoke to staff at Queen Elizabeth High School.
It was agreed that she would not leave school at the end of the day if he was hanging around.
But the coast appeared to be clear so she entered Hexham town center with two friends at 3.20pm.
Around 4 p.m., MacPhail spotted the group and followed them, making sure no one saw him.
Horrifying CCTV footage shown in court showed him staring at her outside a takeaway pizza restaurant.
A few moments later, at 4:45 p.m., Holly approached.
Mr Brooke said: “Holly was not at all happy to see him. In the end, she agreed to talk to him in the alley. What Holly didn’t know was that he had a knife with him.”
Bystanders then heard screams as MacPhail repeatedly stabbed Holly in the alley.
The boy she was with and two brave locals came to her aid, but she died of her injuries in the hospital.
Why Holly’s killer can now be named
MacPhail turns 18 in December when a restraining order imposed on him at trial expires.
But a judge has now agreed to end it early after a challenge from the media.
He said: “The defendant was convicted of serious crimes of local and national importance.
“However, the key factor in the case is not known to the public, which is the nature of the relationship.
“They were in a relationship, but she didn’t want it to continue. It is impossible to fully and properly understand the case and why the accused behaved as he did without knowing this factor.
“There is great public concern about the murders of young people carrying knives in public places and about violence against women and girls.
“Legitimate discussion is helped by knowing who committed such crimes and their circumstances, as well as all the details of the crimes.
“The public should now have a full and proper understanding of such a serious crime and all the circumstances in which it was committed.”
The boy also suffered numerous stab wounds but survived.
MacPhail admitted to stabbing Holly but denied killing her, claiming his mind went blank moments before the attack.
The jury rejected his explanation and convicted him of murder in late August. He was also convicted of injuring the boy with intent.
At the end of the case Holly’s mum Micala Trussler said: “Holly was a beautiful child. She grew into a funny and happy teenager.
“There’s nothing Holly couldn’t do. She loved all kinds of sports and would give anything at least once.
“She fell in love with dance from a young age. It gave her a chance to express herself and helped her gain self-confidence.”
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Holly texted a friend that someone was stalking her
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They lured her into an alley and stabbed her several times Credit: NNP
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