A teenager has pleaded not guilty to murdering nine-year-old Aria Thorpe.

A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a nine-year-old girl in her home.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, has been charged with first-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Aria Thorpe. Jurors returned not guilty verdicts on both charges earlier at Bristol Crown Court.

A pathologist previously told the court that Aria died of blunt force trauma to the chest on December 15, 2025, at her home in Weston-super-Mare.

After her death, the nine-year-old’s family paid tribute to her “lively and bubbly” personality.

The defendant told the jury that he and Aria had been playfully fighting when he accidentally stabbed her.

He told the court he was holding the knife and was “flailing” it around.

“I was going to try and scratch her, and I leaned forward like I was trying to fence,” he said.

After Arya was fatally injured, the 16-year-old left home and headed to Worle railway station. He said he left because he was “scared” and “panicked.”

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