2 hours ago 22 minutes ago
Chloe Harcombe,West of Englandand Andy Howard,Bristol Crown Court
Family handout
Nine-year-old Aria Thorpe died from a azygous stab coiled to her thorax successful December 2025
A teen accused of murdering a nine-year-old miss was playing a "hunting" crippled with her earlier she stepped into a knife, a tribunal has heard.
The 16-year-old, who cannot beryllium named due to the fact that of his age, denies the execution and manslaughter of Aria Thorpe astatine a location successful Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, connected 15 December past year.
On time 1 of the proceedings astatine Bristol Crown Court, Ray Tully KC, prosecuting, told the assemblage the suspect admitted "he had clasp of the weapon successful his manus astatine the clip the fatal coiled occurred".
Tully said they were "play hunting" and the lad had expected Aria to "flinch" erstwhile helium "jabbed the knife" towards her successful an effort to "scare her".
A post-mortem introspection recovered Aria "died quickly" from a azygous stab that pierced done her bosom and punctured her lung. The coiled would person required "mild force" arsenic a minimum, the pathologist's study said.
Family handout
Aria was recovered dormant astatine a spot successful Weston-super-Mare connected 15 December 2025
After Aria was injured, the teen walked to a adjacent railway presumption wherever helium told young radical gathered determination helium had stabbed a child, the assemblage heard.
"You'll spot it connected the quality later," helium told them.
"I was playing astir with a knife. [She] walked into the knife. I accidentally stabbed her with a truly large knife."
The tribunal heard helium told 1 of the group, who helium knew: "I'm a murderer. I accidentally killed someone."
"I'm done for... wherefore person I done this?" helium said.
The assemblage was told helium besides asked to get a telephone and searched "What happens if you kill".
While 1 of the radical distracted the teenager, different called constabulary and alerted them to what the suspect was saying.
The teen boarded a bid earlier officers arrived, but was recovered connected the level of the last carriage and arrested.
He aboriginal told constabulary helium regretted stabbing Aria, but the tribunal heard helium did not notation they had been playing oregon that she walked into the knife.
Family handout
A post-mortem introspection recovered Aria "died quickly" from her injuries
In a prepared connection to detectives, the lad said: "I grabbed a weapon and stabbed her successful the chest.
"I didn't usage a batch of force, but it was a large knife. I don't cognize wherefore I did it, it conscionable happened.
"I walked implicit and stabbed her. She fell to the floor. I near and went to the bid presumption to get a bid and to get away."
"I privation I hadn't done it," helium added.
At the opening of the proceedings earlier, the prosecution said it was a "desperately bittersweet and upsetting" case.
English (US)·