15-Year-Old Charged with Murder of 9-Year-Old Girl

A 15-year-old boy appeared in court on Friday charged with the murder of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe, who was fatally stabbed at her home in Weston-super-Mare earlier this week.

The incident occurred on Monday evening, December 15, when emergency services responded to a report at a three-bedroom council house on Lime Close in the Mead Vale area just after 6 p.m. Aria was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering a single stab wound. Avon and Somerset Police arrested the suspect in the nearby Worle neighborhood seven minutes later on suspicion of murder. The boy, whose identity is protected due to his age, was remanded to youth detention accommodation following the hearing at Bristol Crown Court.

During the brief court appearance via video link from the detention center, the defendant spoke only to confirm his name. No plea was entered. Judge Peter Blair KC set a provisional trial date for June 15, 2026, with the proceedings expected to last two weeks. The boy is scheduled to return to court on March 16, 2026. He was represented by Charley Pattison, while Ray Tully KC appeared for the prosecution. His father attended the hearing in the public gallery.