A man is due to appear in crown court charged with the murder of a woman who was allegedly stabbed by a gang of up to 11 men in a street in Newcastle.
Jodie Wilkinson, 27, died in hospital after being attacked on Stanhope Street, Arthur’s Hill, on Monday shortly before 3.50pm. A 25-year-old man who was also stabbed in the attack was treated in hospital and later discharged.
David Waterston, 43, of Hamilton Place in the city, appeared before magistrates on Saturday wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms. He was remanded in custody and will reappear at Newcastle crown court on Tuesday.
A total of nine people were arrested as part of the investigation into Wilkinson’s murder and eight have now been bailed pending further inquiries. Police believe a gang of up to 11 people were involved in the attack.
Three men – one aged 22 and two aged 25 – were held on Monday at a house near the scene, and on Tuesday two more men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested.
Waterson was arrested on Wednesday, and on Thursday police arrested two boys, aged 14 and 15, and a 15-year-old girl in connection with the death.
Wilkinson got into trouble with the police shortly after leaving school. She had drink and drug problems in her early 20s and lived on the streets before turning her life around and becoming a well-known volunteer with local charities.
In 2010, Wilkinson was given a young achiever’s award by the Evening Chronicle newspaper in recognition of her work with young people. The same year she was also the recipient of a young person’s achievement award by Children & Young People Now magazine.
