Loved ones of stabbed teenager Samantha Madgin have launched a new mission to make household knives safer.
New mum Samantha was just 18 when she was knifed to death in Wallsend by young killer Jordon Jobson.
Since the 2007 tragedy the murder victim's family have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the dangers of carrying knives.
But now Samantha's mum and sister have come up with a new way to try and prevent more lives from being taken.
Alison Madgin and Carly Barrett, who run the anti-knife crime organisation Samantha's Legacy, have launched a campaign to try and make essential household knives safer.
They are urging families to chose knives without points when shopping for kitchen equipment.
And Samantha's Legacy has contacted the UK's major supermarkets asking them to make sure "pointless" knives are available to all customers.
Carly said: "At the end of the day people need knives, they are a household essential, we all need them, but not many people know pointless knives are available, I didn't know about it until I came across it.
"It's a good way to still have knives, but to make them safer. We don't need the point."
Samantha, from Wallsend, had been enjoying her first night out since giving birth to son Callum when she fatally crossed paths with 15-year-old Jordon Jobson, who she had never met before.
The killer, who had been drinking vodka and taking cocaine, armed herself with a knife after a disturbance broke out in an alleyway, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Jobson stabbed unarmed Samantha multiple times in the face, arms and chest.
One of the blows pierced her lung and severed a major artery near her heart, meaning nothing could be done to save Samantha’s life.
Jobson, from Walker in Newcastle, was convicted of murder and jailed for life. She was originally handed a minimum term of 15 years. However, after two separate appeals, that was reduced to 11 years.
Alison and Carly set up Samantha’s Legacy in 2019 to mark what would have been Samantha’s 30th birthday.
The organisation, which relies on donations to keep going, offers knife crime workshops in schools, support to families and a tranquil victim's retreat for those who have lost loved ones.
Samantha's Legacy has visited all four major supermarket chains to identify how knives are being sold and displayed on shelves.
The organisation, which says 74% of knife crime offences involve kitchen knives, is also urging retailers to protect all the knives they sell with alarms, stop selling single knives and to have empty boxes on display until purchased.
Samantha's Legacy is also working with Wallsend-based firm North East Sharpening Co, which has agreed to remove the points from people's existing knives for £1 each.
"It's all about making them safer," said Carly, 32.
"Some parents hide knives from kids who are on the verge of committing crime, and a lot of parents live in fear of their kids getting hold of knives
The Chronicle launched its Stop Knives Taking Lives campaign in February. Backed by police, politicians and victims’ families, we are calling on everyone in the North East to come together to help tackle knife crime.
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