Police quiz boy over stab death

Police are continuing to question a teenager in connection with the death of a 16-year-old stabbed in the neck.

Mark Smith collapsed outside a takeaway in Newcastle on Wednesday and later died in the city's General Hospital.

The dead boy was believed to have been struggling to make it home after he was stabbed in the street but collapsed outside the Spicy Solutions takeaway in the West End district of the city.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder the following day.

Det Chief Inspector Roger Ford, leading the murder investigation, said: "We believe that at the time this happened, about 11.10pm on Wednesday, there were a number of people in the areas of Gill Street, Axbridge Gardens and Elswick Road and I have no doubt that members of the public who were walking, driving or living in the area would have seen or heard something.

"I would urge these people to contact the police urgently. Knife crime is completely unacceptable and it's vital that people come forward with information."

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