A teenager accused of stabbing his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend to death and attempting to kill her mother has appeared in court.
Cameron Cheng, 18, is charged with murdering teenager Lainie Williams at her family home in Cefn Fforest, South Wales, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
He is also accused of the attempted murder of her mother Rhian Stephens, 38, at the same address and possession of a bladed article.
The mother-of-two was left with serious injuries following the attack but has now been discharged from hospital.
Cheng, who was dressed in a grey tracksuit, stared blankly when he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address at the preliminary hearing in Cardiff Crown Court.
He appeared via videolink during the brief hearing.
Family members of the victims were in court for the hearing but Cheng entered no pleas to the charges.
The British national, of Newbridge, Gwent, was remanded into custody to next appear on December 12.
Cameron Cheng, 18, appeared before Newport Magistrates’ Court charged with killing Lainie Williams
Lainie Williams (pictured) was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident on Wheatley Place in the Cefn Fforest area of Blackwood, Gwent, on November 13
Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: ‘A trial date has been fixed for May 11 with a time estimate of two to three weeks.’
Rhian was released from hospital after suffering wounds in the alleged attack when her daughter Lainie Williams was killed.
The mother of two was released from the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, South Wales, after suffering the injuries shortly after 7am on Thursday.
Lainie was killed in her bedroom shortly after 7.15am.
Her cousin Megan wrote: ‘There’s not enough words, rest peacefully our brave and beautiful cousin Lainie.
‘Very fond childhood memories I’ll cherish forever. You were and still are so loved.’
Dozens of friends and family members, including her grandmother Ceri, have since updated their Facebook profiles in tribute to Lainie.
The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to go towards funeral costs.
Police at the scene on Wheatley Place in the Cefn Fforest area of Blackwood, Gwent, on Thursday morning
Armed police were called to the family’s three-bedroom former council house in the village of Cefn Fforest.
Paramedics arrived in an air ambulance but were sadly unable to save Lainie, and she was declared dead at the scene.
Cefn Fforest Councillor Shane Williams said: ‘We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the events that have unfolded.
‘As councillors, we’d like to do our best to reassure everyone, and our thoughts are with the family at this time.
‘We are all hoping for a full recovery for the woman who was hospitalised. Something like this is highly unusual in this area, and I can understand if many residents are now frightened.
‘When a young girl loses her life like that, it’s quite horrendous.’