Stabbed 10 times trying to stop an argument

Feb 21 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

TEENAGER Samantha Madgin acted as the “female voice of reason,” attempting to break up a confrontation before she was stabbed to death, a court heard.

The 18-year-old suffered 10 knife wounds during the attack in Wallsend, North Tyneside, on August 2 last year, the jury was told.

A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has admitted manslaughter but is on trial accused of murdering new mother Miss Madgin.

Newcastle Crown Court yesterday heard that a confrontation had taken place between Miss Madgin’s two male friends and two other men, on Albert Avenue, Wallsend, around 11.30pm.

The jury was told Miss Madgin was trying to stop the situation getting worse, and was heard to shout, ‘Come on, away, just leave it, let’s go’.

The two men went back to a house in the street before emerging again and returning to where Miss Madgin’s group was.

It was after this that the 15-year-old girl, who had been drinking and taking cocaine, came out of the house and, armed with a knife, followed the men down an alleyway to where the argument had moved, the court was told.

Prosecuting, Alistair MacDonald QC said: “What the prosecution say happened, there was a confrontation within two stages between those men in the alley around or about the place where Samantha Madgin’s body was found.

“The confrontation started before the stabbing occurred and was still continuing when the stabbing took place.”

Miss Madgin, of Merlin Crescent, Wallsend, was stabbed once in the face, four times in her left arm, twice in her right arm and three times in her chest.

Mr MacDonald added: “The one that killed her punctured her left lung and went into the left atrium of the heart.”

The jury of eight men and four women were shown the murder weapon which was found dumped down a drain, and were told that some of Samantha’s wounds were defence injuries.

Paramedics arrived at the scene within minutes but the 18-year-old was already dead.

Mr MacDonald told the court: “It is the prosecution’s case that this was a sustained and determined attack by the person who wielded the knife.

“Anyone who has a weapon of that sort with them in a public place, who inflicts that number of injuries on a person, intends to cause, at the very least, really serious harm.”

The jury heard that earlier that day Miss Madgin had been enjoying a day out with friends along the coast and they had been drinking and listening to music.

Mr MacDonald told the jury: “It is the prosecution case that this defendant had gone out (of the house) armed with a knife, that she had gone up to Samantha Madgin intent on a fight and intent, you may think, on using that knife.

“You may also think, it’s the prosecution case, that Samantha Madgin had no chance in the course of the struggle.”

The jury was also told that a witness had overheard a conversation between a female, believed to be the defendant, and a man soon afterwards.

Mr MacDonald added: “He could hear the man say, ‘Did you stab her?’ and the female voice replied ‘Yes’.”

Four men have admitted affray charges and a woman has admitted assisting an offender in relation to the case.

The case continues.