By Deborah Nnamdi
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a nine-year-old girl, following a fatal stabbing in Weston-super-Mare, England.
Police identified the victim as Aria Thorpe, who was found dead at a house in Lime Close on Monday evening. A post-mortem examination revealed that the preliminary cause of death was a single stab wound, according to Avon and Somerset Police.
The teenage suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody and is due to appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.
Floral tributes, including bunches of flowers and cuddly toys, have been placed near the house where Aria was found, as residents mourn her death. A police cordon has remained in place around Lime Close since Monday, with forensic teams working at the scene and officers carrying out house-to-house inquiries.
Superintendent Jen Appleford described the impact of the incident on the victim’s family and the wider community as devastating. She said it was “impossible to adequately describe how traumatic the past 36 hours have been” for Aria’s family, adding that the loss of such a young child had caused profound shock and sadness across the area.
She said police were working closely with local schools to ensure support was available for those affected and thanked residents for their patience while investigations continue. Neighbours have described feeling shocked as emergency services remain in the usually quiet residential street.
Police said evidence-gathering efforts will continue in the coming days as the investigation progresses.
