A male teenager aged 15-year-old has been charged to court with the murder of a nine-year-old girl in Weston-super-Mare, England.
According to Somerset police, the victim, Aria Thorpe died from a single stab wound at an address in North Somerset town.
The boy was arrested in nearby Worle a short time after the girl was found in Lime Close.
At a brief hearing, the boy only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
He has been remanded into youth detention accommodation before a hearing at Bristol crown court on Friday.
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A senior police officer, Supt Jen Appleford said: “This remains an incredibly difficult time for Aria’s family, who we continue to support and update around our investigation. 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.
Expressing empathy and reaffirming their commitment to safety, she added: “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. We are working closely with partner agencies and schools across the Weston area to make sure those affected receive access to any support they need.
“We are grateful to local residents for the patience shown while we have been carrying out inquiries in the area. This work will need to continue over the next few days, but if anyone has any issues then please do not hesitate to speak to officers on the cordon, who will be happy to help.”
The chief executive of the Kaleidoscope multi-academy trust, Simon Marriott said: “Our school and trust community are devastated and upset by the news of the tragic death of one of our pupils, Aria Thorpe.
“We are working with professional agencies to ensure that support is provided to our children, staff and families as they come to terms with what has happened. Our thoughts are with Aria’s family at this very difficult time.”
The deputy leader of North Somerset council, Catherine Gibbons, sending her condolences said : “I have been shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Aria’s death. On behalf of everyone at North Somerset council, I offer our sincerest condolences to Aria’s family, friends and the school community.
“The pain of losing a child in such tragic circumstances is unimaginable. We are working closely with partner agencies, including schools across the Weston-super-Mare area, to make sure those affected have access to the support and advice they need.”
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