A 13-year-old Chinese exchange student has been arrested over the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old girl in the NSW Lake Macquarie Region.
Emergency services were called to Euston Close in at Edgeworth about 10.20pm yesterday and arrived to find a girl, 14, with a stab wound to the torso.
She was treated at the scene however later died at John Hunter Hospital from her injuries.
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NSW Police Superintendent Tracy Chapman said both girls were exchange students and were staying with a host family after arriving from China eight days ago.
The pair were staying with a couple, a man and a woman aged in their 50s, and had been attending a local school as part of an exchange program.
The girls were due to return to China on August 16.
Chapman said the female host heard a "commotion" in one of the rooms before she found the older girl with a stab wound.
"No doubt this is a shock and a significant event in their lives," Chapman said.
A knife was found at the scene which Chapman said appears to have been taken from a kitchen drawer.
She said police believe this was the weapon used to inflict the fatal injury.
A crime scene has been established and police are yet to formally identify the 14-year-old victim.
Chapman said there were "obvious complexities" regarding the language barrier while attempting to contact family overseas.
No charges have been laid Chapman said the 13-year-old is assisting police with their investigation.
Strike Force Agnes has been formed alongside homicide detectives to investigate the incident.
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Neighbours told 9News the street in Newcastle's western suburbs was usually a quite, peaceful place, and they were shocked by the death.
"It's such a quiet street and we never have any any problems here. And everyone just goes about their daily business," one said.
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