A 15-year-old schoolboy has been charged with murder after the death of a nine-year-old girl in Somerset, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Timeline of a Tragedy
Avon and Somerset Police were called to a property on Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare shortly before 6:10pm on Monday, December 15. Officers discovered the body of a young girl at the scene. A short time later, a 15-year-old boy was arrested in the nearby Worle area.
While formal identification is pending, police have stated they believe the victim to be nine-year-old Aria Thorpe. A post-mortem examination has been conducted, with preliminary results indicating that Aria's death was caused by a single stab wound.
Court Appearance and Police Statement
The teenage suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was due to appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, December 17. He has been charged with murder overnight.
Superintendent Jen Appleford provided an update on the investigation: "Our investigation has continued at pace since Monday evening and we can confirm a 15-year-old boy, who lives in Weston-super-Mare, has overnight been charged with murder. He is due to appear in court later today."
Community in Mourning and Request for Privacy
Supt Appleford emphasised the profound impact on Aria's family and the wider community. "This remains an incredibly difficult time for Aria’s family, who we continue to support and update around our investigation," she said.
"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."
Police confirmed they are working with partner agencies and local schools to ensure those affected have access to support. Officers remain in the Lime Close area to continue their enquiries and have thanked residents for their patience.
