Aria Thorpe: Jury retires in trial of teenager accused of killing nine-year-old

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

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

The 16-year-old defendant, who cannot be named due to his age, denies charges of murder and manslaughter in relation to her death.

Mrs Justice O'Farrell sent the jury to deliberate on Tuesday afternoon, telling them: "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 prosecution's case is that the boy stabbed Aria deliberately, intending to kill her or cause her really serious harm, the judge said.

The prosecution claims his action was one that any reasonable person would realise was bound to put Aria at risk of physical harm.

The judge said the boy "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."

The jurors have been urged to reach a unanimous verdict.

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

Another child rang 999 and police officers attended the station, arresting the boy shortly after he boarded a train.

A Home Office pathologist told the court Aria died as a result of a single stab wound to her chest.

The nine-year-old had been at school and a dance class on the day of her death. She was collected by her mother, Tori Hull, at about 4.30pm.

After they went shopping and returned home, Ms Hull left for an evening work shift and left Aria watching YouTube videos on the television.

A family friend, who was staying at the house temporarily, found Aria lying on the living room when he returned at about 6pm.

Police and paramedics arrived a short time later but Aria could not be saved and was pronounced dead at 6.58pm.

(c) Sky News 2026: Aria Thorpe: Jury retires in trial of teenager accused of killing nine-year-old