Jury retires in trial of teen accused of murder of Aria Thorpe

The jury has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a 16-year-old boy accused of murdering nine-year-old Aria Thorpe.

Aria died after suffering a stab wound to the chest at her home in Weston-super-Mare, in December last year.

The defendant, who cannot be identified because of his age, denies both murder and manslaughter.

Aria Thorpe. (Photo: Avon and Somerset Constabulary)

As the jury began deliberations on Tuesday afternoon, Mrs Justice O’Farrell reminded jurors of the importance of remaining impartial;

“It is a tragic and shocking case and, as I have said before, it gives rise to very strong feelings.

“It is important to put your empathy to one side and judge the evidence fairly, without being swayed by an emotional reaction.

“You should carefully consider all the evidence that has been put before you”

The judge explained that the prosecution alleges the teenager deliberately stabbed Aria, intending either to kill her or cause her serious harm. Prosecutors argue that his actions were such that any reasonable person would have recognised they placed Aria at significant risk of physical injury.

However, the judge told the jury that the defendant “accepts he stabbed Aria with the kitchen knife but he says it was an accident”.

“His intention was to scare her,” she continued. “He held the knife in his hand and lurched or jabbed towards her.

“He didn’t intend to kill her and did not intend to cause her really serious injury.”

Jurors have been urged to reach a unanimous verdict.

During the trial, the court heard that after Aria was injured, the teenager walked to a nearby train station, where he told a group of children he had killed her accidentally.

One of the children called 999, and police officers arrived at the station, arresting the boy shortly after he boarded a train.

A Home Office pathologist told the court that Aria died from a single stab wound to the chest.

On the day of her death, Aria had attended school before going to a dance class. Her mother, Tori Hull, collected her at around 4.30pm.

After shopping together and returning home, Ms Hull left for an evening work shift, leaving Aria watching YouTube videos in the living room.

A family friend, who was temporarily staying at the property, returned home at around 6pm and discovered Aria lying in the living room.

Emergency services were called and police and paramedics arrived shortly afterwards, but despite their efforts, Aria was pronounced dead at 6.58pm.