A 13-year-old girl, who arrived in Australia as part of a study tour only days earlier, was refused bail yesterday after the victim was found with a stab wound to her torso at Euston Close in Edgeworth on Monday.

She was treated at the scene and taken to John Hunter Hospital, where she later died in the operating theatre.

Both girls were exchange students living with a host family and had been attending Newcastle Waldorf School as part of a tour program.

Co-principals Peter Muddle and Tracey Ashton said the community was in shock following the alleged murder.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic incident involving two visiting Chinese students who have been in Australia since last week as part of a tour group,” they said in a joint statement.

“Our priority has been to ensure care and professional support is in place for our school community as well as for the visiting students and their carers who find themselves dealing with grief far away from their families.

“We have arranged extra counselling to support everyone through this very difficult time.”

Muddle and Ashton said the visit had been organised by an “external tour operator”.

The accused and victim both attended Newcastle Waldorf School as part of the study program and experienced classes.

“The tragedy occurred at a residence where both students were billeted. Although the host family is not connected with our school, we are thinking of them as they too must cope with this ordeal,” the statement continued.

“Our thoughts and compassion are with the students, their families, and everyone affected at this time.”

NSW Police Superintendent Tracy Chapman said yesterday that both girls had only met eight days before when they began staying with their host family.

The hosts were a couple, a man and a woman aged in their 50s.

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.

Strike Force Agnes has been formed alongside homicide detectives to investigate the incident.

The 13-year-old appeared before a Children’s Court today after being charged with murder.