A 13-year-old Chinese student, currently in Australia as part of an exchange program, has been accused of fatally stabbing a 14-year-old girl, also a Chinese exchange student, in a residence in Newcastle, Australia. The older girl was discovered with a single stab wound to her torso at a house in Euston Close, Edgeworth, around 10:20 p.m. on Monday. Authorities were alerted to the incident following reports of a stabbing.
Emergency medical personnel treated the victim at the scene before she was transported to a hospital in a critical state. The 13-year-old girl is set to appear in a juvenile court on Wednesday to face the murder charge.
Superintendent Tracy Chapman, the head of the Lake Macquarie Police District, confirmed that both girls were Chinese nationals who had come to Australia as part of an exchange program. They were residing with local hosts and attending a local school while exploring the Hunter region. The girls had arrived in Australia just over a week ago and were scheduled to return to China on August 16th.
Chapman stated that the New South Wales Police are collaborating with the program coordinators to ensure all necessary procedures and notifications are being carried out. The two girls were staying with the same host family, each having their own bedroom. The incident occurred after everyone had retired to their rooms for the night. The hostess discovered the 14-year-old after hearing a disturbance.
Authorities are currently investigating the relationship between the two girls and whether there was any prior history between them. Chapman acknowledged that language barriers have complicated the investigation, as neither girl is an Australian resident. The police have seized a kitchen knife as part of their investigation.