Teenager Found Not Guilty of Killing Nine-Year-Old Girl
A 16-year-old boy has been acquitted of charges related to the death of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe, who died in her home in Weston-super-Mare.
The accused, whose identity is protected due to his age, faced trial at Bristol Crown Court on charges of murder and manslaughter. The jury returned verdicts of not guilty on both counts.
A pathologist testified that Aria died from a single stab wound to the chest on 15 December 2025 at her residence.
Following her death, Aria's family described her as having a "lively and bubbly" personality.
During the trial, the teenager explained that he and Aria had been engaged in playfighting when he accidentally stabbed her. He stated that he was holding a knife and "waving" it around.
"I was going to try and make her flinch, so I leaned forward like I was fencing," he said.
This is a developing story, and additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Readers are encouraged to refresh the page for the latest updates.
Breaking news alerts can be received on smartphones or tablets via the App. Updates are also available by following @BBCBreaking on X.
