A teenager fatally stabbed nine-year-old Aria Thorpe in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, last December and subsequently searched online for information on the consequences of killing someone, a court revealed.
The 16-year-old attacked Aria with a knife, causing a fatal wound to her chest. After the incident, he confessed to a group of youths at a nearby railway station, claiming it was an accident and that Aria had walked into the knife he was playing with.
The teen, whose identity remains undisclosed due to legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and manslaughter. During his police interview, he admitted to stabbing Aria with a large knife, expressing confusion and regret over his actions.
The prosecution stated that the teenager intended to scare Aria by jabbing the knife at her, but she moved towards him, resulting in the fatal injury. Emergency services were alerted after Aria’s body was discovered, and a post mortem confirmed she died swiftly from a single stab wound.
The court heard that the teenager was a heavy user of his mobile phone, which he considered a symbol of freedom. His phone records indicated minimal sleep the night before the incident. Despite the evidence, the defendant maintains that Aria’s death was an accident and denies criminal responsibility.
The trial, overseen by Mrs. Justice O’Farrell, is ongoing as the case unfolds.