He said Holly was “screaming” throughout the attack and “must have realised she was fighting for her life”.
She had 12 stab injuries, five defensive wounds on her hands and 19 other knife wounds, the judge said.
“Stabbing her head was a terrible thing to do,” the judge told MacPhail, adding Ms Trussler was stopped from seeing her daughter due to the “horrifying condition” Holly was in.
He dismissed defence claims about MacPhail’s low IQ and learning disabilities, adding the teenager intended to kill Holly and “knew how final death was”.
Mr Justice Hilliard said Holly was a “beautiful child” who grew into a “happy and funny teenager who would do anything for anyone”.
He said the value of her life was “beyond measure”.
