In Hexham, Micala Trussler honors her daughter Holly with a poignant ribbon display, raising awareness about domestic abuse and its impact on young people.
Hexham: A powerful display of ribbons has been set up to honor Holly Newton, a 15-year-old tragically murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2023. Among the hundreds of purple ribbons, one white ribbon stands out, symbolizing Holly’s life.
Over 200 purple ribbons represent the number of people who lost their lives to domestic abuse in just one year. Micala Trussler, Holly’s mother, created this display near the Fusilier’s Gates on Beaumont Street to raise awareness about the issue.
Micala wants to highlight that Holly’s death isn’t recognized as a domestic abuse homicide due to her age. She pointed out that current laws only acknowledge victims over 16, which needs to change. “Holly’s case shows it can happen to anyone,” she said.
She believes we need to protect younger people, as many are entering relationships at a younger age and need support. Today marks two years since Holly’s death, and Micala is determined to keep her memory alive.
She’s also advocating for better education in schools about what domestic abuse looks like. “Young people just don’t know the signs,” she explained, emphasizing the need for awareness.
Currently, Holly’s case is categorized under knife crime, but Micala insists it’s much more than that. She wants it recognized as domestic abuse so that lessons can be learned from this tragedy.
With support from Hexham MP Joe Morris, who has raised the issue in Parliament, Micala is pushing for urgent changes in legislation. The family is set to meet with the Minister for Safeguarding, Jess Philips, to discuss their campaign further.
In Holly’s memory, they launched Holly’s Hope in April 2024, a charity aimed at educating young people about the warning signs in relationships. Micala hopes this initiative will help others avoid the pain her family has endured.
The ribbon display was made possible through collaboration with Hits Radio North East, and it serves as a poignant reminder of the need for change.
