Chinese teenage girl on cultural exchange program stabbed to death in NSW's Edgeworth, fellow student arrested
fatally stabbed and a fellow student has been arrested
.
The 14-year-old was found with a stab wound to her torso at her host family's home on Euston Close, Edgeworth, in Newcastle's west, about 10.20pm on Monday.
The two girls had retired to their separate rooms when the host mother heard a commotion and went to check, finding the injured girl.
She was rushed to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition but later died from her injuries.
A 13-year-old girl, known to the victim, was arrested at the scene and is assisting police with their inquiries.
Police seized a kitchen knife from the scene, believed to have been taken from a drawer.
Both girls were part of a cultural exchange program from China, attending a local school and visiting sites around the Hunter area, Superintendent Tracy Chapman told reporters on Tuesday.
They arrived in Australia eight days ago and were expected to leave on August 16.
Police believe the girls did not know each other before arriving and only became acquainted through the program.
They were staying with
a host family
consisting of a man and a woman in their 50s.
No other people were in the house that night.
Police are still trying to determine the nature of the relationship between the two girls.
'Obviously extensive inquiries with other students, teachers, parents and the hosts, of course, to establish what the relationship was prior to last night,' Chapman said.
She added that the investigation may take longer due to language barriers and the girls not being Australian residents.
'Investigation with young girls involved language barriers, working through the consulate, (and) they're not Australian residents, obviously,' she said.
'So there are obvious complications and complexities with that, which is why it's taken us some time to work through.'
No charges have been laid yet, but Superintendent Chapman said charges are expected to be filed later on Tuesday afternoon.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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