Young mother stabbed to death

Samantha Madgin, 18, was caught up in a row and fatally injured in Wallsend near Newcastle at around midnight. A family friend paid tribute to the victim, saying she was an attractive, loving mother of a young baby.

Police said there was a disturbance in a lane between Victoria Avenue and Albert Avenue, Wallsend, at around 11.50pm. After the teenager was stabbed, a murder investigation was launched and a man and woman were arrested in connection with the death.

A police spokesman said Ms Madgin lived a couple of miles from the murder scene in Merlin Crescent, a pleasant street of red-brick semi-detached homes. Police asked the media not to approach her family.

The murder scene was cordoned off and forensic experts examined the area. Around 10 plastic markers were laid out on the road surface in the back lane, showing where blood stains were left.

Uniformed officers were keeping guard to preserve evidence, as well as reassuring the public. Northumbria Police said a post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out later.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson, leading the murder inquiry, said: "There was clearly some sort of disturbance going on which has led to a young woman losing her life. I particularly want to hear from anyone who was in Victoria Avenue, Albert Avenue, Harle Street and the area of Park Road around this time."

Chief Superintendent Steve Storey, area commander for North Tyneside, added: "I'd like to reassure the local community around Wallsend, and particularly the town centre, that although this is a very serious crime, this is certainly not common for the area. Our neighbourhood policing teams will be continuing with their regular duties to maintain levels of reassurance over the coming days."

Ms Madgin was described as a well-mannered mother of a young baby.

Friends and relatives began laying flowers near the murder scene but were not allowed to get too close by police officers who were preserving any evidence.