The household of a nine-year-old woman who was stabbed to demise say they “won’t ever cease preventing for justice” after a jury acquitted {the teenager} accused of her homicide.
Aria Thorpe died of a single stab wound to her chest at her house in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, on 15 December 2025.
A 16-year-old, who can’t be named as a result of his age, was cleared of each fees of homicide and manslaughter at Bristol Crown Courtroom on Thursday.
In a press release on social media, Aria’s aunt Katie Thorpe stated amid an “epidemic of knife crime”, the decision leaves households “questioning what penalties actually exist”.
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{The teenager}, who was 15 on the time of Aria’s demise, instructed jurors he and Aria had been playfighting when the accident occurred.
He stated he meant to “make her flinch” when he gestured the knife in direction of her, however she as a substitute moved nearer and the knife he was holding plunged into her chest.
The boy then “panicked”, left the home and headed for Worle Railway Station, the place CCTV captured him showing to re-enact the deadly stabbing to a gaggle of youths ready on the practice platform.
Aria was discovered mendacity face down on the ground of her house shortly after 18:00 GMT by Ollie Sheppard, who was briefly lodging on the home.
A autopsy examination discovered Aria died rapidly from a single stab wound that pierced by her coronary heart and punctured her lung.
Aria’s aunt stated the household would carry the “grief, heartbreak, and loss for the remainder of our lives” [Family Handout]
In her assertion, Katie stated her loss felt just like the household had “been handed a life sentence”, and would “by no means cease loving and lacking our lovely woman”.
“The UK is going through an epidemic of knife crime, and instances like this solely depart households questioning what penalties actually exist. One thing has to alter,” she wrote.
“What does it train individuals when a baby can lose her life in such a horrific and mindless method, but no person is held accountable?
“[Aria] had her complete life forward of her. She needs to be making reminiscences, laughing along with her household, rising up and chasing her desires.
“We’ll carry this grief, heartbreak, and loss for the remainder of our lives. In the meantime, the particular person accountable walks free.
“We’ll by no means cease talking Aria’s title. We’ll by no means cease preventing for justice.”
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