Teenager held over young mum's murder

A 15-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a young mother who was stabbed to death in the street.

Victim Samantha Madgin, 18, was caught up in a row between two gangs in a back alley in Wallsend, near Newcastle, at around midnight.

Northumbria Police said a 15-year-old girl from the Newcastle area was arrested this afternoon on suspicion of murder.

A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s were already being questioned, also on suspicion of murder, and more suspects are wanted, the force said.

Police said Samantha was in one of the two groups involved in "an altercation" in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear.

Chief Superintendent Steve Storey said: "We received a call about a disturbance in Wallsend in the back lane between Victoria Avenue and Albert Avenue around 11.50pm."

He added: "On arrival we found the victim had suffered stab wounds. She died later from her injuries.

"She has now been formally named as Samantha Madgin, 18, of Merlin Crescent, Wallsend.

"We particularly want to hear who was in Victoria Avenue, Albert Avenue, Harle Street and the surrounding area around this time.

"There was clearly some sort of disturbance going on which has led to a young woman losing her life.

"We know there was an altercation between two groups. Samantha was in one of these groups.

"We also need to speak to another man and a woman who were possibly involved in the disturbance last night to come forward

and speak to police.

"Anyone with information, no matter how trivial they think it might be, should get in touch with Northumbria Police on 08456 043043."

The officer, who is commander of the North Tyneside area, said that knife crime was rare in the area and police took robust action against anyone carrying a blade.

He added: "I'd also like to remind people we do not have the same level of problems with gang culture as other parts of the country and the majority of incidents involving knives are when the victim and offender are known to each other in some way - a random attack by a stranger is rare."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.