A 16-year-old boy has entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murdering nine-year-old Aria Thorpe in Weston-super-Mare. The accused, whose identity remains protected due to his age, appeared before Bristol Crown Court on Friday, March 27.
Aria Thorpe was found fatally wounded at her family home in the Mead Vale area of North Somerset on December 15, after police were called at 6:09 pm. The Avon Coroner’s Court confirmed she died from a single stab wound to her chest.
During the brief hearing, the youth responded “not guilty” when the charge was read. Prosecutor Ray Tully KC informed the court that the trial is scheduled to begin on June 15 and is expected to last approximately two weeks. Defense counsel Andrew Langdon KC represented the boy throughout the 20-minute session.
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Judge Martin Picton maintained existing reporting restrictions to protect the identity of the minor defendant. Aria’s family and community continue to mourn the young girl, with her father describing her as a “brave, kind-hearted and beautiful innocent soul,” and relatives on her mother’s side remembering her as “happy-go-lucky, full of light and joy.”
The accused remains in custody as the legal process moves forward toward the trial date.