Mum stabbed in knife attack that killed daughter, 17, ‘wishes she fought harder’

A mother seriously injured in a knife rampage in her family home has said she wishes she could have ‘fought harder’ for her baby girl’.

Lainie Williams, 17, was at home with her family in South Wales when she was attacked in her bedroom on Thursday morning.

Cameron Cheng, 18, a British national from Newbridge in Caerphilly County, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article.

Her mother, 38-year-old Rhian Stephens, was also injured in the attack and was airlifted to hospital.

She posted a tribute to her daughter, saying she was ‘still coming to terms with the tragic loss of my beautiful girl Lainie Lea Louise’.

‘I knew you better than most and the memories we share will always be able to replay in my head like my personal home video.

‘I miss sneaking in your bed and watching horror movies or trying to solve the cases of Law and Order!

‘I miss you coming to give me a kiss goodnight every night without fail, telling me you love me and wrapping your arms round me and mine around you and telling you that I was so proud of you and you’re beautiful.

‘I miss you more every single day, I just want you back. I lost my most prized possession, you.’

‘My baby boy is missing you too. The home we’d made for you, me and your brother isn’t our home anymore, it’s a crime scene.

‘Both your brother and myself are left with nothing but the clothes on our backs.

‘In the summer you’re going to be a soft, cool breeze. Autumn you’ll be that gentle gust of wind rustling the leaves, in the spring you’ll be the first little daisy that blooms and in the winter you’ll be the heat in my heart.’

She also asked parents to keep a close eye on ‘changes’ affecting their children, saying: ‘I’d never want another mum to experience this type of pain.’

She wrote: ‘Guys please look after your sons and daughters and look for subtle changes in their moods. Sit there with a cuppa and check in on them.

‘Teenagers if you’re currently suffering in a relationship, speak up tell your parents they will listen.’

She added: ‘Don’t let Lainie die in vain because all too quickly it could end up like this scenario again and again.’

Armed police were called to the family home in Cefn Fforest, near Blackwood, shortly after 7am on November 13.

The teenager was found lying in a pool of blood and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gwent Police assistant chief constable Vicki Townsend said: ‘We understand that there has been a great deal of interest in this investigation.

‘It is vital that people consider how their language, especially comments made online, could affect our ability to bring anyone found to have committed a criminal offence to justice.

‘Even though we’ve reached this significant development in the investigation, our enquiries continue so it is likely that residents will continue to see officers in the area.

‘So if anyone has any information, please speak to our officers or contact us in the usual way.’

Appearing via video link from prison, Cheng, who is a British national, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, set a trial date for May 11 2026 with a time estimate of two to three weeks.

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