At Bristol Crown Court, a 16-year-old boy accused of murdering nine-year-old Aria Thorpe has given evidence in his trial, claiming he intended to 'scare' her by waving a knife just before she was fatally injured. The teenager, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, denies charges of murder and manslaughter.
During the fifth day of proceedings, the defendant recounted the events leading up to Aria's death at her home in Weston-super-Mare on 15 December last year. As he described the moments that followed, his emotions became evident as he spoke about trying to make Aria flinch, saying 'I was going to try and make her react, so I leaned forward like I was fencing'. He acknowledged waving a knife – demonstrating this with a pen in court – and admitted that Aria had smiled at him as he did so.
The defendant stated that Aria took a step forward before placing her hand on her chest and collapsing to the floor. He told the court, 'The knife went into her and then I pulled it out,' adding that, at this point, he was unsure of what to do. In the aftermath of the incident, the boy described his immediate thoughts as needing 'to get away' from the scene.
He expressed feelings of fear and anxiety, stating 'I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what was going to happen.' The defendant also revealed that he felt 'horrible' upon his arrest and struggled to sleep following the incident due to the weight of what had occurred. The trial will continue as it seeks to establish the full circumstances surrounding Aria Thorpe's tragic death.
The case has been deeply distressing for everyone involved, with ongoing legal proceedings aiming to determine the culpability of the defendant and shed light on the events that led to Aria's untimely passing.