Samantha Madgin: Stabbed to death by 15-year-old Jordan Jobson
Laura Whitmore on Britain's Killer TeensSamantha Madgin was only 18 years old when she was brutally murdered in a drunken street fight. Samantha, who was trying to break up the fight, was a young mother of a 10-week-old when her life was taken. The killer was 15-year-old Jordan Jobson.
Laura Whitmore’s new series Britain’s Killer Teens dives deeper into cases like this. Join us here at Crime+Investigation as we investigate the tragic case of Samantha Madgin.
Who was Samantha Madgin?
In 2007, Samanthan Madgin was 18 years old. Her sister Carly described her as a 'loving, caring sister', and her mother Alison called her a 'wonderful daughter, granddaughter, sister and niece.'
On 25th May 2007, Samantha gave birth to a son named Callum. 10 weeks after Callum’s birth, Samantha decided to go out for the night with her friends. This was the first time that she had treated herself to a night out since Callum was born. However, what was meant to be a fun, relaxing night would turn into a horrific tragedy.
The murder of Samantha Madgin
Samantha and her friends went to Wallsend in North Tyneside on 2nd August 2007, for their night out. Things took a turn for the worse when the group ended up embroiled in an argument in an alley. Samantha tried to break up the fight, and that was when she became the target of 15-year-old Jordan Jobson.
Despite her age, Jobson was drunk on vodka and lager and high on cocaine. She viciously attacked Samantha, stabbing her 10 times in her chest, arms and face. One of the blows pierced straight through Samantha’s lung, while another severed one of the major arteries close to her heart. The severity of these wounds meant that nothing could be done to save Samantha.
The trial and sentence of Jordan Jobson
In 2008, Jobson went to trial in Newcastle Crown Court for Samantha’s murder. Jobson argued that she did not mean to kill Samantha, saying that she had armed herself to try and break up the fight. It took less than two hours for the jury to return with a guilty verdict. Jobson was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years before she could be eligible for parole. However, in the almost two decades since the murder, Jobson has had her sentence cut twice.
Initially, Jobson's sentence was cut to 12 years, as judges considered it to be 'manifestly excessive'. The sentence was then shortened again to 11 years following another appeal. Samantha’s friends and family were greatly let down by this sentence, with her sister Carly stating in 2017:
'We've been let down from day one. Fifteen years for taking someone's life is absolutely nothing and then for it to be reduced to 12 and then 11 years is just not fair.'
In late 2020, Jobson was released from prison on licence. This did not last long though, as she breached one of the conditions of her license, leading to her returning to jail.
Samantha’s Legacy
Despite suffering through the heartbreak of losing a daughter and a sister, Samantha’s family did not allow her death to be in vain. They made it their mission to educate children on the dangers of knife crime with the 'Samantha’s Legacy' organisation.
Founded in 2019, the group has been instrumental in raising knife crime awareness. They have delivered counselling and offered retreats to those who have experienced bereavement or trauma due to knife crime. They have delivered over 2,000 workshops in the North East of England. In 2025, Alison, Samantha’s mum, and Carly were awarded MBEs for their services to prevent knife crime.
Samantha might be gone, but her mother, sister, and the rest of her family have kept her memory alive with their amazing work. Be sure to go to the Samantha's Legacy website to find out how to support the organisation and continue the fight against knife crime.
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