A 15-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of a nine-year-old girl in Weston-super-Mare.
Aria Thorpe died from a single stab wound at an address in the North Somerset town on Monday, Somerset police said. Emergency services were called to Lime Close shortly before 6.10pm.
The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Bristol magistrates court on Wednesday charged with her murder. During a brief hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
He was remanded into youth detention accommodation before a hearing at Bristol crown court on Friday.
The boy was arrested in nearby Worle a short time after the girl was found in Lime Close.
On Wednesday, Supt Jen Appleford said: “This remains an incredibly difficult time for Aria’s family, who we continue to support and update around our investigation. It is impossible to adequately describe how traumatic the past 36 hours have been for them and we’d like to reiterate in the strongest possible terms their request for privacy.
“The tragic loss of such a young girl has caused a huge amount of shock and upset, with there being a profound sense of loss felt throughout the community. We are working closely with partner agencies and schools across the Weston area to make sure those affected receive access to any support they need.
“We are grateful to local residents for the patience shown while we have been carrying out inquiries in the area. This work will need to continue over the next few days, but if anyone has any issues then please do not hesitate to speak to officers on the cordon, who will be happy to help.”
Simon Marriott, the chief executive of the Kaleidoscope multi-academy trust, said: “Our school and trust community are devastated and upset by the news of the tragic death of one of our pupils, Aria Thorpe.
“We are working with professional agencies to ensure that support is provided to our children, staff and families as they come to terms with what has happened. Our thoughts are with Aria’s family at this very difficult time.”
Catherine Gibbons, the deputy leader of North Somerset council, said: “I have been shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Aria’s death. On behalf of everyone at North Somerset council, I offer our sincerest condolences to Aria’s family, friends and the school community.
“The pain of losing a child in such tragic circumstances is unimaginable. We are working closely with partner agencies, including schools across the Weston-super-Mare area, to make sure those affected have access to the support and advice they need.”
